The Israeli tactician replaced Ghanaian coach Kwesi Appiah after the latter's forgettable 2014 World Cup outing which was further marred by the infamous "cash-in-the-plane" saga.

Ghana Guardian sports writer Musah Abelyire writes:

His arrival was met with mixed feelings. There was a group of people who were highly elated with his appointment because Kwesi Appiah had lost his dressing room and needed to be replaced. Another group were indifferent about the development; they had lost it for the Black Stars and no longer cared. Yet another school of thought felt we should maintain our own and ensure continuity.

The issue here is, he was employed after all and given a juicy 27 month contract to "do well at the 2015 Nations Cup and win the 2017 Nations Cup."

Kudos to him, he did well in Equitorial Guinea by reaching the final where he unfortunately lost in a shootout with Ivory Coast. At that point, it was natural to keep him at the helm of affairs. Why not? Here is a manager who achieved if not over achieved the results the FA had assigned him to. After all he was only asked "to do well" and not to win. Since his "good" performance in Equitorial Guinea, is he enroute to achieving the second phase of his assignment (win the 2017 Nations Cup)? Answer is hell no!

It makes sense to assert that it is wise to keep him there because he did not fail at his first task. But judging from what has happened between his first task and second task, he looks headed for the wall without being a prophet of doom. Avram Grant stands no chance of taking the Black Stars where the team needs to be taken. Obviously he should be given the sack but as an act of courteousness I am emphatically asking him to resign and save his curriculum vitae.

Here is why:

Avram Grant is the manager of the Black Stars (obviously a Ghanaian team) and needs to be felt in the country or places where the interest of the team matters most. In Grant's early days, he proved to be interested in his job when he was seen at various football venues including home-based match centers observing potential Black Stars materials. But as the time ticked by, Grant has become lacklustre in his managing of the team.

This is the last thing Ghana needs especially with the rift between the Ghana Football Association and the Ministry of Sports. It got to a time when sports journalists showed concerned about his scouting plan. The response was that he travels around the world scouting players.

The question is, if he is really scouting, where are the players he is busy scouting since the Black Stars line-up is still very predictable. This is not to say he should make any drastic changes to the team but come on, Ghanaians want to see the impact of his supposed scouting. He showed slight promise with regards to scouting in the local league when he called Inusah Musah of Accra Hearts of Oak and Emmanuel Ocran of Wa All Stars to join the team for observation. But that was not a hard thing to do right? Avram obviously invited these guys because they could not be overlooked especially with the media hype around their heroics in the league last season. Let it not be misunderstood, it was for observation not a call-up. I am not justifying whether they should be included in the team or not. I only mentioned them for the purpose of this topic.

The last straw that broke the camel's back came when Avram Grant was captured on television doing punditry while the draw for AFCON 2017 was happening in Gabon. Honestly, his presence in Gabon would not have done anything to change Ghana's group placement but please Avram, show some care!

How can you be comfortably seated on television discussing a different league when the team that has employed you is at such an important stage?

Dear Avram, every Ghanaian is a coach who believe if given the team they can manage it even better than you. It is very clear that you have done nothing tactically that the ordinary Ghanaian fan cannot envision.

For instance, during the last World Cup qualifier game in which we lost 2:0 to Egypt, Grant pulled off Mubarak Wakaso and Partey who were the clear performers of the day when Ghana was behind. AMAZING!

Ghana saw this and see the coach to be uninspiring. He has not won in five consecutive games.

The loss to Russia was not really a bother but the draw against Uganda in Tamale was totally uncalled for.

Amidst the usual criticisms from Ghanaians, he was bold enough to advice Ghanaians.

“If this Nation will concentrate on the football and not the bull***t, and just the football because there is a lot of passion, we can reach higher, high level. It is a long term target but it achievable.” he had said.

I understand that it may be normal to speak like this where he comes from but Ghanaians do not care and obviously do not love him for this.

The Black Stars have run out of favour with Ghanaians. The fall-out between Ghana Football Association and the Sports Ministry may have fuelled the indifference towards the team but a Grant sacking will surely help rebuild the love for the team because a change has the potential to build new interests.

The GFA knows this and will eventually pull the trigger.

Don't sit and wait for the bullet Avram, run for cover because you are a soldier destined for the firing squad.

#Grant_Must_Go

By Musah Abelyire/ghanaguardian.com/[email protected]