Ghana's Black Queens goalkeeper, Cynthia Konlan, has expressed her hope that head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren will return to the women's national team once his duties with the Black Stars are over. Bjorkegren, who remains the substantive head coach of the Black Queens, was appointed interim coach of the Black Stars, a role officially described as temporary. Konlan stated that she was taken aback by the appointment but insisted the Swedish tactician's place is with the women's team.
Konlan emphasized that Bjorkegren belongs to the Black Queens, saying, "I don't want to take our coach away from us, but all things being equal, we hope he's coming back to us... Kim Lars is our coach, he belongs to the Black Queens." Despite her wish to have him back with the Black Queens, Konlan did not hide her pride in Bjorkegren's work with the men's team, particularly after a recent victory under his charge.
Bjorkegren guided the Black Stars to a 2-0 first-leg win over Somalia in the AFCON 2027 qualifiers, a result he had set the team up to build on before the return leg played in Sekondi. The return fixture also came as vice-captain Thomas Partey sat out to attend his late father's funeral. Konlan's comments highlight the uncertainty surrounding Ghana's arrangement of having one coach split between the men's and women's senior national teams.
The Ghana Football Association has yet to clarify how long Bjorkegren's interim spell with the Black Stars will last. Konlan's hope for Bjorkegren's return to the Black Queens underscores the importance of his role with the women's team. As the substantive head coach of the Black Queens, Bjorkegren's temporary departure has raised concerns about the team's performance and stability.
Bjorkegren's work with the Black Stars has garnered attention nationwide, particularly given the weighty responsibility of coaching Ghana's senior men's side. Konlan acknowledged the significance of his role with the men's team but reiterated that his place is with the Black Queens. The uncertainty surrounding Bjorkegren's tenure with the Black Stars has sparked debate about the arrangement and its impact on the women's team.
The Black Queens have been preparing for upcoming matches, and Konlan's comments have highlighted the need for clarity on Bjorkegren's future with the team. As the team looks to build on their recent performances, the return of their substantive coach will be crucial to their success. The Ghana Football Association will need to provide clarity on Bjorkegren's role with the Black Stars and its impact on the Black Queens.
The situation has sparked discussion about the challenges of managing multiple national teams and the impact on team performance. Konlan's hope for Bjorkegren's return to the Black Queens reflects the team's reliance on his leadership and expertise. The Ghana Football Association will need to balance the needs of both teams and provide a clear plan for Bjorkegren's role with the Black Stars and the Black Queens.
Key points
- Black Queens goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan hopes Kim Lars Bjorkegren returns to the women's team after his interim spell with the Black Stars ends.
