Kotoko Fire Coach..New Coach In

Kumasi Asante Kotoko has sacked coach Ian Potterfield from the club just one week before their crucial African Cup Winners Cup match in Egypt. Sources close to the club say the coach was axed for non-performance and insubordination.

His dismissal letter was handed to him last Monday, a day after he led Kotoko to trash their Egyptian counterparts, El Ghazel Mahala 3-0, in their first leg quarterfinal African Cup Winners Cup match at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.

According to the kotoko management spokesperson, during the recess of the Kotoko- Olympics match at the Kumasi Sports Stadium two weeks ago, Mr. Poterfield behaved very rudely towards the Chief Executive of Kumasi Asante Kotoko. Mr. Herbert Mensah, when the latter tried to suggest to the coach to vary his tactics to enable Kotoko overpower Accra Great Olympics who were then leading Kotoko by a lone goal.

The spokesperson continued that even though the Chief Executive approached the coach in a diplomatic manner, Mr. Poterfield became infuriated and shouted that no one could interfere in his work. The behaviour of the coach resulted in a heated argument that attracted the players and other dignitaries who managed to calm them down.

According to the spokesperson, when Kotoko equalized, the coach turned to the VIP where the Chief Executive and some dignitaries were seated and made an insulting gesture with his middle finger.

He said the coach made the same signal when Godwin Ablordey scored the winning goal for Kumasi Asante Kotoko. He stated that even though some of the players and other dignitaries prevailed on the coach to apologize to management, he refused, compelling management to terminate his appointment.

A German coach is expected in the country by the end of the week.

Potterfield took over Kotoko after German Coach Ernst Middendorp resigned from his post. Former VFL Bochum manager; Ralf Zumdick is the new man in charge of Asante Kotoko after the firing of Scot, Ian Porterfield on Wednesday by the management of the club.

The 44year-old coach was in Kumasi last Friday and would be in charge of his new team against Liberty Professionals on Sunday. The former Bundesliga professional goalkeeper handled VFL Bochum was recommended to Asante Kotoko by Bayern Leverkusen coach, Klaus Toppmoller and Ernst Middendorp, who was succeeded by Porterfield. Both German coaches once handled VFL Bochum. Zumdick joined Bochum from the 1999/2000 seasons and that of 2001.