Ghana Football Association (GFA) Communications Director Henry Asante Twum has explained that the international football calendar gives Kim Lars Björkegren sufficient time to manage both the Black Stars and the Black Queens despite their involvement in crucial matches within a short period.
Björkegren’s responsibilities across Ghana’s two senior national teams have attracted attention, particularly as both sides prepare for important fixtures that require adequate technical preparation and tactical planning.
However, Asante Twum has pointed to the difference between the women’s and men’s international windows as a key factor that makes it possible for the coach to handle both assignments.
According to the GFA Communications Director, the two teams generally have their international commitments at different periods, allowing the coach to focus on one side while the other is on a break.
“So, he has that luxury. The women’s international window is completely different from the men’s international window. While the women are playing, the men are on a break, and when the men resume, the women also have their turn,” Asante Twum explained.
His comments suggest that the scheduling of international fixtures provides Björkegren with an opportunity to manage his responsibilities without having to prepare both teams for matches at exactly the same time.
The arrangement could also allow the coach to dedicate sufficient attention to player assessment, tactical preparation and match planning for each national team during its respective international window.
Coaching two national teams comes with considerable demands, including monitoring players, selecting squads, organising training sessions and preparing strategies suited to different opponents. However, the GFA believes the separation of the men’s and women’s international calendars provides an advantage in managing those responsibilities.
For Ghana, the challenge will be to ensure that both the Black Stars and the Black Queens receive the technical attention required to compete successfully in their respective assignments.
Asante Twum’s explanation therefore places emphasis on the international calendar as a practical factor in making Björkegren’s dual role manageable, even as both national teams face important fixtures.
