Back in August 2008, the FA's choice of Milovan Rajevac as coach of Ghana was questioned and criticized.
He was maligned for his incoherent control of the English language.
Rajevac, a former defender in playing days kept on his side his assistant Kwesi Appiah, a former national defender and a close backroom staff with the support of the Ghana Football Association to plan their surge towards South Africa 2010.
A year on, Ghana’s once criticized coach has ensured qualification to the 2010 Nations Cup and World Cup finals.
And he did it style as the Black Stars have kept a clean sheet in the final round qualifiers to top the table with 12 points, seven more than the second-placed side in Group D.
His first game in charge ended in a draw, a friendly against Tanzania with his maiden competitive test ending up in a defeat to Libya in Tripoli in the second round of the African qualifiers for the 2010 Africa Nations Cup and World Cup campaign.
The knives were out for him after that game. And even when he guided a select band of locally-based players to win silver at the maiden CHAN tournament in Ivory Coast, his credentials were questioned.
But he’s gone on to mastermind the Black Stars’ qualification to the final round of qualifying having achieved a run of five successive wins till date in six games.
Rajevac’s moment of glory came on Sunday, when Ghana booked their ticket to South Africa before an expectant home crowd, beating Sudan 2-0.
With qualification now in the bag the Black Stars can begin plotting their assault on a second successive World Cup finals.
Milovan Rajevac can be content in the knowledge that he has managed to get the best out of his ‘wonderful group’ and also achieved his target of a World Cup qualification.
“We have a good group of talented players who know the situation which we find ourselves in. The most important aspect of this game is to achieve success.
“I need to say, I have a very good group. We have had results and still need to have results.
“They (players) like their country and realize what it means to play for the jersey,” he said to www.ghanafa.org.
“It’s a priceless honour for them to represent their country and qualify for a big competition like the World Cup. This team is very hungry to go again (a second World Cup appearance).
“They are aware of what they can achieve and they have the quality to go on and on. I strongly believe we would make it. I am very confident,” he said.