I'm Happy With Prince Tagoe’s performance - Coach Stevanovic

Black Stars coach Goran Stevanovic has expressed satisfaction with the performance of striker Prince Tagoe.

Tagoe, who plays for Turkish side Bursaspor has fallen out of favour with the Ghanaian fans after a series of ‘sorry’ performances for the national team in recent times, yet he was a surprise inclusion in the Serbian's provisional 25-man squad for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

Contrary to reports that the striker is out of form, the Stars trainer thinks otherwise.

He explained that Tagoe has been an integral part of the team prior to his assumption of the technical guidance of the team. “Tagoe was in the team before I took over, and he has been playing very well,” Plavi told a press briefing on Thursday in Accra.

Coach Stevanovic said that the player fitted very well in the absence of Asamoah Gyan during one of the matches in the qualifying campaign. “During the game against Congo when Gyan was suspended, Tagoe played and he scored. I was very appreciative of his performance.

For ‘Plavi’ as the Serbian coach is nicknamed, that performance convinced him of the abilities of the 25-year old, hence his inclusion in his provisional squad for the 28th edition of the continental flagship event.

On Hearts goalie, Sammy Adjei; Plavi said he enquired about the current performances of the goalkeeper from his compatriot, Nebojsa Vucicevic, who is head coach of Hearts.

Adjei, a veteran of three Africa Cup of Nations in 2002 (Egypt), 2006 (Egypt) and 2008 (Ghana) was conspicuously missing when the provisional squad was announced on Thursday. “I spoke to Hearts coach about Sammy Adjei. At the time, he told me Adjei was injured.”

The Serbian he is very much aware of the performance of the goalkeeper in recent times but had his options.

Ghana are housed in Group D alongside Botswana, Mali and Guinea for the tournament.

Source: GNA