What does Coach Duncan bring to Kotoko?

Coach David Duncan.

Reactions to rumours of his coming to Kotoko were mixed. Some wanted his appointment; others didn’t. But he accompanied the team to Algeria to play El Eulma. His first competitive game ended in a desirable draw. The reaction to his influence and the team’s form since then has been interesting. Coach David Duncan is the man being talked about.

Before Kotoko’s contingent emplaned for Algeria last week, management said that, the coach would be with the team in the North African country. There was no clear communication as to whether the coach would sit on the bench. In a subsequent communication, General Manager, Opoku Nti made abundantly clear that, Coach Duncan was in Algeria basically to observe.

All that changed on the match day. Coach Duncan technically directed affairs for Kotoko.

Along with assistant, Michael Osei they led the Porcupines to secure quite a good result. A video initially released by Kotoko’s communication office had Duncan addressing his players before training in Eulma; where he made the fascinating disclosure that, it would have been criminal for him not to have coached Kotoko. I agreed with him after watching that video.

“In all my coaching life; I have served at my father’s hometown, that’s in the Fanti area. My father is a Fanti. I’ve served where I was raised – where I’ve spent virtually all the days of my life; that’s Accra. I’ve served all the two glamorous, traditional or well-known clubs – Olympics and Hearts…It would’ve been very criminal not to have served where my mother comes from” said Duncan in the two-minute video.

I agree with Duncan’s statement not because of the ethnic dimension he introduced to it, but for the simple reason that, having coached Great Olympics, Hearts of Oak and Ashantigold, it’s good that he comes to Kotoko not just to enrich his resume but also to help a club in need.

Take it or leave it, Olympics, Hearts and Ashantigold have no clout bigger than Kotoko. Kotoko’s Ghana biggest football club. I suspect, Coach David Duncan quietly looked for the chance to coach Kotoko before the end of his career. That dream has now materialized.

I recently wrote that, Duncan’s failure will not alone be his failure but Kotoko’s failure too.

That’s one of the many reasons everybody at and with Kotoko have to back Coach Duncan.

But then, some questions have to be asked and answers sought or provided.

What does Coach Duncan brings to Kotoko? How soon will he be able to change things? Will he be the man to lead Kotoko to the African success that has eluded the club for decades? Only God can offer definite answers to these questions. What I can do or say with my finite mind is to analyse, predict and be hopeful that, my analyses and predictions become a reality.

I have the firm conviction that, Duncan is coming to Kotoko with a number of things – which include but are not limited to enthusiasm, rejuvenation, discipline and robust tactics. Talking about enthusiasm, I have observed that, even those who criticized Duncan’s appointment are keenly following him. Literally, with one eye closed and the other opened, they have been finding out, what Duncan has been up to within the short time that he was appointed.

That show of enthusiasm in Duncan’s affairs at Kotoko isn’t only being shared by his critics. His admirers – most of who were at the airport on Sunday night – have also been expressing that joy, which has the potential of getting to the playing body if it hasn’t already gotten to them.

Indeed it has indeed got to them. That partly influenced the team’s performance in Algeria.

Coach Duncan himself put that point succinctly: “I believe it was a bit psychological; a bit of loss of confidence. It’s not about the quality of players. They needed some boost in confidence” he said. That confidence is back.

As a known disciplinarian, too much time doesn’t have to be spent debating how Coach Duncan will instill discipline in the team. The same can be said about his robust tactics. I am convinced that Coach Duncan is a good tactician. With all the underlying forces of winning a league title in Ghana considered, I am convinced that, Duncan with time, can do that at Kotoko. On Africa, that will be the subject for my next write-up. Once again, welcome, Coach Duncan.