Oosterzele native Desmond Ofei aims to lead Ghana to World Cup success as assistant coach

Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, is heading into the World Cup with a Belgian-born coach from Oosterzele on its staff. Desmond Ofei, who spent his formative years in Ghent and Oosterzele, Belgium, is serving as an assistant coach under Carlos Queiroz.

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I was born in Ghana, but I grew up in Ghent. After that, I ended up in Oosterzele. I've been involved in football my whole life, first as a player, then as a coach.

Ofei's journey to the World Cup is a testament to his dedication to football, a sport he has been involved in his entire life, first as a player and then as a coach. His coaching career began with youth teams at Lokeren, followed by a brief stint in Portugal, and then a period with Antwerp's youth academy in Belgium. However, Ofei felt a calling to return to his birth country, Ghana, to contribute to the development of its football.

For the past four years, Ofei has been working with the Ghanaian Football Association. He initially coached the U20 team, aiming to elevate the standards of coaching education in Ghana. His efforts have now culminated in a World Cup appearance as an assistant coach. He highlights the team's strong preparation, noting their undefeated qualifying run with only one goal conceded.

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It happened very coincidentally. I felt the time was right to return to Ghana and help the football there. I knew I could give football in Ghana a boost with my qualities.

Adding another Belgian connection to the team is Gregory De Grauwe, a video analyst from Kalken who also works with KV Kortrijk. Ofei acknowledges De Grauwe's significant contribution to the team's success through his analyses. The Black Stars are reportedly brimming with enthusiasm and passion as they prepare for their opening match against Panama in Toronto, aiming to control the game from the start.

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We had a very strong preparation with Ghana. In the qualifying round last year, we didn't lose a single match and only conceded 1 goal.

Ofei also commented on the challenges of opening World Cup matches, drawing a parallel to the Belgian national team's difficult start against Egypt. He stressed that no opponent in the tournament should be underestimated, citing Spain's surprising draw against Cape Verde as an example. Ghana's squad is characterized by a positive atmosphere and a strong desire to perform, with Ofei expecting passionate support from their fans, who are known for their singing and dancing.

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Our boys are incredibly eager to give everything on the field. We want to take the match into our own hands, start with passion and enthusiasm, and take control of the game.