 |
| Coach Mas-ud Didi Dramani whisper to his players. |
In the recent days, Kotoko
coach, Mas-ud Didi Dramani has come under severe flak for various reasons, topmost
among which is, the seeming unimpressive performance by the Porcupine Warriors
in the 2014/15 First Capital Plus League. It started from the 0-1 loss to
Aduana Stars at Dormaa Ahenkro on match day one. That loss although not
surprising to me was disappointing.
The assumption before the
match was that, with the quality of players Kotoko had assembled and the trial
matches played over the four-month off-season period, Kotoko worst result against
Aduana Stars would have been a draw. The Porcupines lost and returned home to
host Hasaacas who remarkably held them to a pulsating 2-2 draw.
Didi Dramani and his players
didn’t have it easy in that match. After the game, the fans were also at their
throat, lambasting them for struggling and not winning too. Days later at the
Coronation Park, Sunyani, Didi and his players exhibited quite an excellent
show to beat B. A. United 2-0 – securing their first three maximum points in
the season.
There were a handful of Kotoko
supporters, who, behaving like almost like ingrates didn’t want to see the
effort of the Porcupines in getting that vital away win. These supporters criticized
the coach heavily and the entire team for perceived non-performance. They
complained that, with Kotoko’s Africa campaign around the corner, less
convincing displays by the team had the potency to ensure another early exit
from Africa.
I thought these fans were
unfair to Coach Didi. Not giving up on their demand for quality performance, these
fans continued to express dissatisfaction with Kotoko’s uninspiring league form
even when they piped Inter Allies 1-0 on match day five in Kumasi. The supporters
still felt Kotoko struggled to win and that couldn’t be the characteristic of a
team ready to storm Africa.
Was Coach Didi going to throw
in the towel in the face of his supposed unimpressive outing? Not really. Didi
was spot on. He wasn’t afraid to be fired, he said in interviews following the 2-2
draw with Hasaacas. He lost 1-0 to Hearts at home last Saturday on match day
six and since that agonizing defeat, the calls on management for Didi to be
fired has intensified.
From Saturday, I haven’t met any
Kotoko fan who wants Didi to stay. But would management accede to the
supporters’ demand to sack him? Should Coach Didi be sacked? Wouldn’t there be
any repercussions for his dismissal? Who will replace him? Do we have anybody
in mind? How difference will a new coach make at this time? Is that what will
restore Kotoko’s glory?
These are questions that have
to be answered before any move is made to fire Didi. The fans list wrong
selection, tactical deficiencies and poor substitution as some of the reasons based
on which they want Didi Dramani out. I don’t know about tactical deficiencies. I
am myself deficient in that respect. However, I have, on occasions disagreed
with the coach on his choice of players. Whether that disagreement provides
enough ground to sack him is another matter.
As I write, I am not sure of
management’s posture on Didi’s future. What I’m however certain of is that, the
fans are fast falling out with the coach. That’s an unhealthy development. I
implore management to be calm yet very strong – not necessarily bowing to
supporters’ pressure.
They decisions they deem fit
and appropriate. They are in-charge. They must direct the ship and not make it
sink. Whatever decision management arrives at on Didi Dramani, must be quick.
There must be no air of ambiguity surrounding it. That decision must take into
account the club’s Africa campaign, ensuring that, if Didi will continue, he must
do much better than he’s done. Conversely, if it is that, Coach Didi sent out, that
must also be made clear and simple.
Commentary around the club
boldly confirms that not everyone is happy. There’s unanimity that, Coach Didi
is losing it. Some of the players too don’t appreciate what it takes to play
for Kotoko. Whether it is Coach Didi that has to assume control and change
things for the better, or it is the players or indeed it is management, this is
the time for decisive action.
No comments:
Post a Comment