Duncan, Didi Dramani story retold

Mas-ud Didi Dramani (L) and David Duncan.

Didi Dramani is out. David Duncan is in. That should have been it. End of story. Simple.

But no. we didn’t have it that simple. It took some twist and turns. That is what I’m about to recount. Didi Dramani was certain to lead Kotoko to their third successive league Premier League title after doing that twice; don’t mind the struggle in his first season.

Didi had quite a fantastic pre-season campaign. He played over 25 matches; winning a substantial number of them with a good number of goals scored. At a point in the unduly delayed off-season, Didi’s team played some good football – a situation that would have ensured his stay at Kotoko had something closer to that been replicated in the season.

But that wasn’t the case. Seven league matches under his watch; Kotoko won only two; lost three and drew two. It included a predictable away defeat to Aduana Stars; a disappointing draw at home to Sekondi Hasaacas, an impressive 2-0 win over B. A. United at the Sunyani Coronation Park followed by an unconvincing 1-0 win over Inter Allies in Kumasi.

Losing 0-1 to an obviously plodding Hearts of Oak side at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium and subsequently to an inform Ashgold team at Obuasi worsened the supporters’ bad feeling around the club while at the same time darkening Didi’s hitherto bright future at Kotoko.

Didi’s understanding of football’s fine theories was touted even by his fiercest Kotoko critics. However, claims that he experimented too if not always tinkering with his squad gained too much currency. When results on the pitch at the start of the season didn’t also go well, the storms turned well against him. Thus Coach Didi was to be sacked.

The rumour mill churned out that story nearly every match day Kotoko underperformed.  Supporters’ agitations to see Didi out grew stronger by the day. When Kotoko’s Board of Directors eventually decided on Didi Dramani’s fate, they unanimously asked the coach to proceed on his 120-day accumulated leave, effective, February 28.

Amidst severe media bashing, many argued that, Kotoko’s handling of Didi’s exit was very interesting. The “proceed on leave” instruction was viewed as a decent way of avoiding the coach’s wrath; to drag Kotoko to the GFA to demand huge sums of money for breach of contract.

Didi responded to the “proceed on leave” directive, thanking Kotoko’s Board of Directors for the chance they gave him to serve. He further demanded an amicable settlement of issues relative to his severance package. In Didi’s absence, Kotoko went on a winless three-match run.

They drew twice at home and in an away encounter against Berekum Chelsea, with deputy coach Michael Osei in-charge. The appointment of a new coach delayed temporarily. The choice of David Duncan as Didi’s replacement had to be “vetted” somewhat largely by supporters who had a bone to pick with him. Kotoko painfully laboured on the pitch.

This week, the impediment to David Duncan’s appointment was removed. Management announced that, the team had finally parted ways with Coach Didi. It said a two-year contract was awaiting Coach David Duncan even as he accompanied the Porcupine Warriors to Algeria for the CAF Champions League, 1/16th stage, first leg match against Eulma.

Duncan was in a hearty mood at the Kotoka International Airport as the team went through departure formalities and afterward headed first to Istanbul, Turkey and later to the Algerian capital, Algiers and of course, the city of Eulma where Saturday’s game will be played.

Coach Duncan may not be on the bench for the game but he could play a supervisory role in Kotoko’s quest for a favourable result in the difficult Champions League qualifier. When the team returns home early next week, Duncan’s assignment to first get Kotoko out of the less-dignifying 14th position on the Premier League table will start.

Twice, Coach Didi Dramani failed to get Kotoko to the league stage of the CAF Champions League. As to whether Coach David Duncan can do that remains to be seen. It’s worth wishing the new coach very well and hoping that the team will come good under his tutelage because, as supporters with Kotoko at heart, any Kotoko official’s failure will mean the team’s failure.