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Robson Sharuko-Senior Sports Editor

VETERAN Serbian coach, Milovan Rajevac, sealed his return to take charge of the Black Stars yesterday, after he was unveiled on a one-year deal, which could earn him a million dollar jackpot.

However, to get his US$1.060 million cash package, the 67-year-old coach will have to win the 2021 AFCON title, in Cameroon, next year, and take Ghana to the 2022 World Cup, in Qatar.

After having arrived in Accra, this week, hoping to get a US$45 000 monthly salary, the Serb was forced to reconsider his financial demands, amid opposition from the country’s Government.

The Black Stars coach’s salary is paid by the Ghanaian government, through their Sports Ministry, and there were concerns, this week, the coach’s return could be derailed by boardroom complications.

Rajevac was forced to reconsider his demands, with the coach eventually accepting a US$30 000 monthly salary, while rather than being handed a two-year contract, he ended up signing a one-year deal.

He will also receive a US$100 000 signing-on-fee.

But, should he take the Black Stars to the 2022 World Cup finals, it’s very likely that contract could be extended, by another year.

That will award him a US$300 000 bonus for guiding Ghana back to the world’s biggest football showcase where, in 2010 in South Africa, the Serb made his name.

He was the coach in charge of the Black Stars, as they went on a great adventure, which swept them into the quarter-finals of the tournament.

They came within just a last-minute penalty conversion, to make history, by becoming the first African country, to qualify for the semi-finals of the World Cup.

Luis Suarez had deliberately used his hands, to block a goal-bound effort on the line, in a frenetic ending to the encounter, earning himself automatic dismissal, from the match.

However, Asamoah Gyan blew his golden moment when his shot, from the spot, crashed against the crossbar and Uruguay lived to fight another day, taking full advantage, to win the match after a penalty shootout.

And, the sight of Suarez celebrating, after his conduct had denied the Black Stars their place in the sunshine, rubbed salt into the wounds of the Africans fans, who were backing the team’s cause. “This was the biggest success in Ghanaian football and the biggest success in my career,’’ Rajevac told a media conference in Ghana yesterday, where he was unveiled as the Black Stars coach.

‘’I was happy to share this success with you. If Suarez hadn’t done what he did, we might have been world champions.’’

The Ghana Football Association have gone for an All-Star coaching team with Otto Ado, who is now the first assistant coach at German Bundesliga giants, Borussia Dortmund, taking up a similar role, at the Black Stars.

The other assistant coach is Maxwell Konadu. Addo is considered one of the rising stars, among African coaches, and had a stint with Hamburger SV in 2009 before taking up his role at Borussia Dortmund.

He has also acted as the head scout of the Black Stars.

While Rajevic is still remembered for his impressive adventure with the Black Stars in South Africa, questions have been asked if he still has that magical touch.

After all, he left Ghana, just after the 2010 World Cup to take over as the national coach of the Qatar national team, who are the host side, at the next global showcase.

But, Rajevac was sacked, after only six months, and he resurfaced at Algeria.

However, his romance with the Desert Foxes did not go according to plan and he left, after overseeing only two matches, in 2016.

He then moved to Thailand, where he was in charge for nine months before an embarrassing 1-4 defeat, at the hands of India, resulted in him being sacked in April 2017.

The Serb has been jobless since then.

The Ghanaians have gambled on bringing him back, hoping he can reignite the flame in their national team, which has been fading badly.

There are also reports he could persuade Gyan, who turns 36 in November, to reconsider returning for another final stint, with the Black Stars.

 It’s expected that, for the two matches against the Warriors, the new coach will deal with the players who had been selected by his predecessor, CK Akonoor.

“What happens is that three weeks before every game the coach submits his list,” Henry Twum, the GFA head of communications, told Citi TV. “CK submitted his squad on Sunday and he was fired on Monday, so as we speak there is a squad in mind.”

Yesterday’s unveiling of Rajevac, as the new Black Stars coach, was another twist, in a turbulent week for the Ghanaians.

On Thursday, the Government was forced to dismiss reports, they had agreed to fund the coach’s US$45 000 monthly salary.

“It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of publications making rounds on social media that the Ministry has given approval for the engagement of Milovan Rajevac as the new coach for the Senior National team, the Black Stars and agreed to pay an amount of US$45 000 a month for his services,’’ read their statement on Thursday.

“Much as the Ministry is aware of the process of engaging a new coach for the Black Stars by the GFA, the process has not been brought to the attention of the Ministry. 

“We wish therefore to state categorically that the publications that the Ministry has agreed to pay USS45 000 for the coach of the Black Stars are untrue and of no basis. 

‘’It must be noted that the Ministry is awaiting the report of the Ghana Football Association on the engagement of a new coach.

“By this release, the general public is entreated to disregard any such publications and treat it with the contempt it deserves.’’

However, less than 24 hours later, a deal had been struck, although with the coach receiving a lower salary.