Black Stars Technical Advisor Winfred Schaeffer is gearing up for a successful stint with the team, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar just around the corner. Appointed in January, Schaeffer brings over 40 years of managerial experience to the table, including a notable win at the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon in 2002.
As he settles into his role, Schaeffer emphasized the importance of teamwork, managing pressure, and qualifying for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. His responsibilities include providing technical guidance, overseeing football development in Ghana, and collaborating with the Technical Directorate to develop a long-term strategic plan for the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
With Ghana currently sitting second in Group I, tied on 9 points, Schaeffer's expertise will be crucial in the upcoming matches against Chad and Madagascar.
Schaeffer has been sharing his thoughts with ghanafa.org.
Read on for the transcript:
On Impression so far
I was a little bit surprised when the President called me for a meeting. I met him in Manchester; it was a very good meeting. I wanted to know his philosophy for the future, what he is doing and what he wants to do for the football community and it was very good. And for the first time now I am in Ghana and I'm happy about this. Everybody is focused on good football, and also for the youth teams and I hope for the best. What we want is everybody has to bring in his head around the table; we have to go to the World Cup in 2026 and we all have to work together. I think it's possible.
On journey so far
My time in Kalsruher as a player, I was in a very good team. We played with Monchengladbach, a very strong team at the time. After I changed club, I was winner with Kickers Offenbach and I went back to Monchengladbach and we won the UEFA Cup against Red Star Belgrade – that time it was in Yugoslavia and after one year it was a lucky day for me. I met the manager of Karlsruher and we watched a match, we talked and he told me, I need a coach. Yeah, won't you come to us? And I said Yes! It was beautiful. And in the first year we went from the second league directly to the first league. It was a little bit normal of course Karlsruher is not Bayern Munich, Cologne or Frankfurt. We have to work very, very hard in the trainings field for young players.
I told many people that number two aim of our football club was our bank of young players - Under 18, under 15. And every Sunday morning after our match with the senior team, I watched our youth teams and from this youth teams. Many players came to the first team. We have to work in the end; we are played in the UEFA Cup. We lost the 1st leg 2-1 in Valencia and at home we won 7-0. Why? Everybody was focused on the match. Everybody was very hard. Everybody was ready to fight. Nobody wanted to play for himself. Teamwork, team spirit is very, very important in football and that is what did the magic. After I changed to Borussia Berlin, then I went to Cameron. It was a highlight. That was as a golden generation of players. We had Etoo, Rigobert Song, Carlos Kameni, Vivienne Foe (the late), Patrick Mboma and more. And the first year we won the Africa Cup of Nations in Mali against Senegal without conceding a goal except the penalty shootout.
On Ghanaian players and what is needed to succeed
Ghana has very good players, very good players around in Europe, the local players and the players born in Ghana who play in Europe. These three types of players we have to bring together. That's very important. Not the best players win matches, but the best teams win matches and when all play together. And nobody should say I am from Real Madrid, I am from Arsenal, I am from this or that. No, everybody has to be proud to wear the shirt of Ghana. However, we have to work for the players. We give them respect, we help them with good training fields, and we help them with good pitches for football.
I think we have a good backroom staff including the Doctor, the Physio, and the coach, Otto. And then we have a big picture so we can go to the states all together, From the President, to the Minister, the Coaches, the Staff, and the players all together. We can do it.
On role as Technical Advisor
My role and my experience is very important. I want help. Otto, we have talked, I'm not the head coach. Otto is the head coach. And maybe I see one thing we can make better when we work together. I'm not the man to tell that this is not good or bad. No, we have to talk. We have to work as a team. Yeah. And in, in German, we say four eyes is better than two eyes.
And I think together they can do it. And for three, four days we have a, a telephone call. I ask him about; maybe you want a call one player, when one player have a problem in his club. I think it's very important, the coach or I call him and tell him what this happening because the player is, is very important. He knows we are interested in his welfare. These things are very important. And it's good that Otto went to France, Holland, Switzerland, England and other countries to see the players - this is very good. I know the players have issues with their coaches about the Cup of Nations qualification. Sometimes the coaches think when my player goes for three, four weeks to Cup of Nations; it’s difficult so that play on their mind. I had this experience in my team when I was the coach of Jamaica. We had four players from England in the Jamaica team.
Wes Morgan from Leicester City and four others - there was always a problem during the international break because clubs had problems releasing their players because they think about distance, training facilities, pitches, Doctors and others. But these clubs have to know we are professionals, we have a good Doctor, we have a good Physio and the players are in safe hands.
Once we put these in place we are good to go. The players have to know the same and find a common ground for both the nation and the clubs.
On Ghana’s chances after four Matchdays
We have to go to the next two matches with confidence, with a winning mentality. The players have to know when they come here and he go back to the club he is highly motivated, he's fit, and nobody think in his home that Oh, now I have to go to Ghana and the field is not good. And the pitch is not good. The massage is not good. No. That is first what we have to do. We have to bring, the players have to be happy when they come here. Then we can make a big step towards the United States, Canada and Mexico. That is what we have to do.
On team work instead of individual glory
I give you an example. I watched four World Cups with Argentina. Yes, 2010 in South Africa. Yes. Maradona was coach and everybody, many players play for himself for good contract in Europe. The next was in Russia. The team was not a strong team together. And the final match in Brazil against Germany was Okay.
I remember one player, he was in Manchester City. I have forgotten the name. He had a big shot for one zero but they lost. And so now how did Argentina win the World Cup in Qatar? The coach selected players who played as team and also play for Messi. To win matches you have to work much in the defense and that is why Messi was the best player. You need a good team to win tournaments not a good player. That was Argentina. Everybody played for the champion. Now I think eight players from this team have a new contract in Europe.
Everybody have to know only when we have success together, I can make a good contract. And that is what, what I mean it's not important to, maybe I make two goals and I'm the big star, but I lost the match. Nobody wants you in the team. The coaches know this player play only for himself. I don't want him. And the same when we work together, all players and we have good players, very good players, and everybody know together we can win and we have to do it. And that is what Otto and I know. This is what we have to do. Play together as a team, fight together on one table and talk the same. Believe me, I know the player a little bit. I know players from Africa; they have a good mentality and we can make a very strong team. Teamwork is number one, teamwork is Great!
On dealing with pressure
We have to talk not only when the player come here. We have to call the players and ask them about their kids and their family. There's a coach, the player has to know. We have impressed about him. All the players have to think not only the players, the coaches, the massage, the physio therapist, the President care about them. We are Ghana. The players have to think that my family is here, my grandpa, my grandma is here. Everybody must be happy when I go onto the field. And this is easy to win. Well, we don't need one group in the dinner time is here, one group sit here, one group sit here. No. We all sit together, eat together and have fun together. That is what we need. We need a leader in the team who will bring everybody along. The coach, the team work, the team mentality, wining mentality and togetherness is very important. When we have these, they will go out there and win the match.
On message to Ghanaians
I know we are not very happy because the team didn’t make it to the Africa Cup of Nations but please give us the support. I want to talk to the players. I want to help the staff. I want to help the coach so that we come back stronger, believe me. But for this, we have to work very hard. The players have to feel proud playing for Ghana. Players outside from Ghana or the local players have to feel hungry for a call up to play for Ghana. And Ghana is a football land. The best land in Africa for football. And we have to come back. Please give us the support. Stay behind us. You are our 12 man and we can do it.
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