GFA still owes Goran Stevanovic

The Ghana FA have admitted that despite sacking former Black Stars coach Goran Stevanovic in March, his outstanding fees have not been settled. But the country’s football governing body maintain there is no bad blood between the two parties.

The Serbian coach was sacked with ten months left on his contract for failing to win the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. He had then issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Ghana Football Association to pay him his 820,000 Euros compensation. That deadline ended on June 4 without the two parties reaching a settlement. Several months on, the Communications Director of the Ghana FA says the severance fee will be sorted in agreed terms soon.

“There have been underground talks between us and the former coach but we have not yet reached a deal. When that happens we will inform the general public but we will like everyone to know that the decision to settle matters has been amicable and there is nothing acrimonious between us. We are still talking to Goran’s representatives and all will be settled soon.”

Lawyers of the former Black Stars coach had threatened to go to FIFA if the Ghana federation defaulted on paying him on time. They had argued that the Serbian deserved a 24-month consolidated salary and the remainder of his signing on fee which was 100,000 Euros.

They are demanding a reason for the dismissal of the former Partizan Belgrade coach. The 45-year-old had alleged that the Football Association’s vice-president told him his safety could not be guaranteed in the country. Stevanovic had signed a 30,000-Euro monthly salary contract in 2011.