Coach Afranie quits Kotoko

Accra, Oct 16, GNA - Emmanuel Kwesi Afranie, head coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko becomes the first casualty in the six week old premiership following his decision to resign from the Club.

The coach is reported to have communicated his decision to quit the job verbally to the Sylvester Asare-Owusu led management team few hours after the Club's painful lone goal defeat to Kpando Heart of Lions at their Konongo 'Waterloo' park last Sunday.

Information gathered by the GNA Sports reveals that, the coach holds a contrary view to the management team's who believe there is a problem with the technical direction of the Club, hence his decision to call it quit.

Kotoko is presently placed on the second spot of the Premier League table after six matches in the premiership with 10 points, despite losing two matches in a row.

The Club had prior to last Sunday's defeat also lost by a similar margin to Gomoa Fetteh Feyenoord at the Swedru Sports Stadium. Kwame Baah-Nuako, Director of Communications of Kotoko confirmed the decision of the coach to the GNA Sports in a telephone interview. He said that the management had already taken a decision to sack the coach but wanted to give him (coach) the opportunity to quit to protect his image and reputation.

Baah-Nuako said the management has never been satisfied with the performance of the team in the few matches they've watched, adding that the team has for the past weeks been playing pattern-less games. He said that the Club has initiated talks with former coach, Hans Dieter Schimdt to take over as the technical director of the Club. According to Baah-Nuako they hope to conclude negotiations with the German, who is currently in the camp of another premiership side, Gamba All Blacks by the close of Tuesday.
Asked for reasons behind the choice of the German, he said, "Because he is the next available coach.'
Dieter Schimdt was in charge of Kotoko when they reached the finals of the 2003 Confederation Cup competition but was sacked after the Club failed to win the trophy.
Kotoko is confronted with another major task on Sunday as they trek to Tamale to play Real Tamale United (RTU) at the Kaladan Park in the seventh week league match.
Attempts by the GNA Sports however to reach coach Afranie for the side of his story proved futile.