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| Coach Steven Polack and Godwin Ablordey |
It’s in fact, one of the major contributing factors to the largely under-developed nature of our domestic leagues. Having comprehensive plans for the growth of our clubs and seeing to the successful implementation of these plans will have a telling effect on the looks of our clubs and leagues.
That’s why I was moved by the report that, Kotoko have made changes in their technical team. First, the Management must be commended. The changes are in line with the “Vision of the club’s Management to restructure, strengthen and sharpen the focus of [the] senior and developmental teams” I read.
That’s impressive. Team Manager, and CAF License ‘A’ Coach, Godwin Ablordey is the new Technical Director of the Youth Team. Former Kotoko captain, Henry Ohene Brenya is the new Team Manager. Steven Polack maintains Head Coach position with his Akakpo Patron, also a former Kotoko player, as his Assistant. Another former player, Stephen Oduro is the Welfare Manager.
For a club that lacked firm technical direction at some point last season, the changes should be seen as healthy. In terms of managerial experience, questions can be asked as to how Ohene Brenya and Stephen Oduro will fare in their new fields but given their rich knowledge of Kotoko as ex-players, they shouldn’t have problems in their respective offices.
For me, regardless of how poor the Management handled Coach Michael Osei’s case last season, when he was sent to the Youth Team, I insist that, Mickey should have taken the job not alone to prove a point, but also, I had the premonition that, Zdravko Logarusic wasn’t going to stay on for long, and that, Mickey definitely would’ve been recalled.
I chipped in that to explain my position that, Godwin Ablordey must graciously accept his new portfolio and work assiduously on the club’s youth team. It has to be pointed out however, that, if Ablordey will be successful, much will depend on the sort of direction the Management offers in formulating tried and tested youth development policies for his department, which is crucial.
On the surface, Ablordey, Oduro, Brenya and Kotoko as a whole, have everything to succeed. What I’m not convinced of is the level of support they would receive from the Management, which so far, hasn’t demonstrated the right administrative shrewdness – that is, the thinking and planning needed to return the mighty Asante Kotoko to the top echelons of African club football.
The Management’s mandate in November 2016 was clear: “To reshape the administrative structure of the club to infuse professionalism and competence at all levels of its operations…To consolidate the position of Kotoko at the top of the domestic league and advance further to take its rightful place among the elite clubs of continental African soccer”.
This certainly can’t be achieved in a year. And it can conveniently be said that, there’s still more time. The plain truth is, administratively, there hasn’t been enough evidence to be sure that, Kotoko can compete favourably on the continent any time soon. Changes in the administrative setup and pragmatic proof of the direction the club is being taken to will also be helpful ahead of the new season.
