Asante Kotoko seems to be in trouble at some point in the season in the last five years. The club will commence the season in good form, but will collapse entirely, getting to the business end of the season.
Abdul Karim-Zito knew the risks in ditching Dreams FC for Asante Kotoko’s hot seat. He has, in three years, won two FA Cup titles and reached the semi-finals of the CAF Confederations Cup with the Still Believe, where they lost 3-0 on aggregate to eventual winners Zamalek.
His resume is the best compared to his colleagues in the local game, yet he did not survive the pressure that accompanies Kotoko’s job, how much more Prince Owusu?
Prince Owusu replaced Zito on an interim basis, and his short stint has been extremely disastrous. Fans were fiercely against him getting anywhere near the top position when it was rumoured that he was replacing Zito.
He commenced his reign with a disappointing 1-0 defeat against perennial rivals Accra Hearts of Oak at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. Kotoko crumbled under the unfancied Prince, forcing him to quit unceremoniously after the disappointing 4-0 massacre by Medeama.
Kotoko’s official announcement…..
Interim Head Coach Prince Yaw Owusu has stepped down from his role with immediate effect. The coach stated in his resignation letter that his decision was taken in the greatest interest of the club.
Management expresses its sincere appreciation to Coach for his service, dedication, and commitment during his time with the club, and wishes him the very best in his future endeavours.
In the interim, Youth Team Coach Hamza Obeng will take charge of the team for the remaining games of the season. Further arrangements shall be communicated in due course.
Signed
Sarfo Duku ESQ
Communications Director.
So my big question is: Why did Asante Kotoko appoint Prince Owusu as the interim head coach?
The politburos of the club have forgotten that it is IFFHS’s club of the 20th century, and decisions must match the status.
The Porcupine Warriors are little by little becoming a graveyard for dumping players and coaches.
The decision to part ways with Abdul Karim-Zito is questionable in the first place. The veteran tactician needed time and support from the top and the fans, but they teamed up against him and called for his sacking almost every matchday, even if they won.
They now have a 99 per cent chance of going trophyless and missing African for the umpteenth time since the turn of the 21st century.
Kotoko has won just one game in the last six. They were humiliated by Medeama SC in Tarkwa, 4-0 in round 29 of the Ghana Premier League in Tarkwa.
The Porcupine Warriors sit in sixth position in the league table with two points adrift of the top 4. League leaders Medeama are 10 points clear of Kotoko.
Putting the blame all the time on the coaches of Asante Kotoko is disheartening, and the sooner they realise that their problems run deeper, the better it will be for them.
Football is leaving behind Asante Kotoko because nothing looks like they will have the strength to appoint a coach of Hans-Dieter Schmidt’s or Ernst Middendorp’s calibre.
Prince Owusu will rue how things ended up at his beloved Kumasi Asante, as he was determined to prove something.
