Arguments for and against Coach Duncan

Coach David Duncan

The management of Kotoko is yet to make a definite statement on whether or not, former Olympics, Ashgold and Hearts trainer, David Duncan will be the club’s next coach. But even before that definitive pronouncement is made, it’s an open secret that, David Duncan could be Kotoko’s technical handler. Opinions have been divided over his possible appointment.

There are a good number of Kotoko fans who want David Duncan as replacement for Coach Mas-ud Didi Dramani. In the same vein, there is a sizeable group of supporters who strongly disagree with management’s intent. Interviewing some of these fans, the feeling I get is that, they are both resolute in their respective positions. What is interesting is that, they agree on one thing, which is Coach David Duncan’s much touted principled attitude.

They’re unanimous on Duncan’s no-nonsense character. The fans say if it’s about instilling discipline into Kotoko players, they share the view that, Coach David Duncan has the wherewithal to do it. They see him as an uncompromising disciplinarian, believing that, under Coach David Duncan, truant Kotoko players are likely to sit up, change their attitude towards training and matches and focus more on their career and ultimately help Kotoko’s course.

That’s a credit the supporters want to freely give to Coach David Duncan even before he arrives. The two groups of supporters however disagree when it comes to Coach David Duncan’s competence, achievements and whether or not, he can lead Kotoko to success.

It’s not as if Coach David Duncan’s competence is actually being doubted. The argument of the anti-Duncan supporters is that, he has not won any notable silverware with any club and on that score, he can’t lead Kotoko to achieve laurels either this season or beyond.

The pro-Duncan fans however contend that, as long he has a strong temperament, he will be capable of coaching Kotoko successfully. They cite the fact that, two of the previous clubs Duncan coached – Olympics and Ashgold – doesn’t or didn’t have the clout Kotoko have. As a result, that affected his delivery in terms of winning a silverware. At Hearts of Oak, Duncan’s admirers within Kotoko further argue that, he wasn’t given enough time to work.

The anti-Duncan supporters come in once again with the issue that, he is a coach who previously made derogatory remarks about Kotoko including the allegation that, Kotoko paid bribes to win matches. They say he also questioned why coaches who have had stints with Kotoko were always earning national team appointments at the expense of others who haven’t coaching jobs. This upset Kotoko fans to the extent that, some dragged the coach to the ethics committee of the Ghana Football Association.

For that reason, these supporters don’t want Duncan to be appointed as Kotoko’s next coach. The other group of supporters quickly jump to Duncan’s defence, saying that, the coach should be forgiven. More so he has reportedly said that, his supposed disparaging remarks were part of mind games preceding his clashes with Kotoko and should therefore not be taken seriously.

Where do you stand? What’s your take? What is your judgment? What do you make of the arguments put forward by the two groups of supporters? I will tell you mine. I think it’s fair for questions to be asked about Duncan’s remarks but questions relative to his competence are baseless. When Coach Bashir Hayford was appointed in the 2007/2008 season, he hadn’t won any league title yet he won the league that season.

The same as Coach Mas-ud Didi Dramani in the 2012/13 season. On that premise, Duncan has to be given the chance but he has to justify his remarks or apologize unreservedly for some of his remarks. Added to that, something more has to be done if Duncan will be successful at Kotoko.

The coach should be made aware of the all challenges the club is facing now. We shouldn’t assume everything is right. We must state the administrative deficits at Kotoko and lay bare the possible hiccups he could face as Kotoko coach after which a conduit should be created through which any differences or difficulties he encounter would be resolved.

Again, Coach Duncan must, within a short time, know his technical team, their competences and weakness and appreciate that, drastic changes to whatever he finds out at Kotoko will be unhelpful at this time. David Duncan must understand that, managing Kotoko differs from managing any other club in Ghana. If he comes with that understanding and gets the right support, his stay at the club could be fruitful.

Communicating Kotoko: Ahenkorah's huge task

Kwaku Ahenkorah - Kotoko Communications Manager.

It was only a matter of time. His appointment letter had been sent to the Board of Directors. The only thing left was the Board’s approval. That approval or confirmation came last week. Kwaku Ahenkorah is Kotoko's new Communications Manager.
 
I don't remember the exact date on which I met Kwaku Ahenkorah for the first time. It must have been at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium somewhere in 2008. I had then heard of him as a likable, fine journalist in Kumasi. Pleasant and affable was the view I formed of him after our first, brief interaction or meeting in Kumasi. That view is still intact.

After working and interacting with Kwaku Ahenkorah over the last one month, my opinion of my elder brother has been finer because we only get to know people well when we get closer. Kwaku Ahenkorah has an excellent professional attitude. I’m not saying this because Kwaku is in to work for Kotoko. That’s the truth, nothing but the whole truth. If it was anything different, I would have mustered the courage to say it.  

Kwaku is passionate about his profession. He goes about it in the best possible way, dealing tactfully and professionally with practically anybody who comes his way. Such is the kind of personality Kotoko needs because it’s not easy doing anything for Kotoko especially at the management level.

If Kwaku Ahenkorah didn’t know that any job you are assigned to do at Kotoko requires sacrifice, I’m sure he knows that by now. All things considered, doing anything for Kotoko demands great sacrifice. I’m not a management member but from close observation, I have seen past and present Kotoko management members experiencing difficulties they probably wouldn’t encounter or go through but for their association with Kotoko.

I won’t be able to share examples of those difficulties for lack of space and time. I, however, will encourage Kwaku Ahenkorah to be ready for more sacrifice. Kwaku Ahenkorah, in my view has that sacrificial spirit. I know of how he was from his own pocket, buying A4 sheets to print team sheets for journalists at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, for instance, when he was the Media Officer at the national stadium.

Aside sacrifice, our Communications Manager must try to satisfy all Kotoko interests – particularly that of Kotoko Express and the website, www.asantekotokosc.com. These are issues I have already discussed with him so the impression shouldn’t be that, I could have privately discussed these with him.

The point about Kotoko’s media outlets is very important. Kotoko Express and Asantekotoksoc.com thrive on information, not just information but Kotoko information.

As a result, it’s imperative that, our media outlets – owned and administered by dedicated professionals are fed regularly with accurate, timely and exclusive information.

It’s undeniable that, not every Kotoko news or information will be published by Kotoko Express and Asantekotokosc.com. In this era where there are FM or radio stations everywhere and their sports presenters always eager to be the first to break the news, only a novice will argue that FM or radio stations shouldn’t be given Kotoko news or information.

Even if one does that, radio sports presenters would surely find means of getting what one doesn’t want to share with them. Radio has extensive reach or coverage besides being the easiest means of disseminating information nowadays. Kwaku Ahenkorah would thus (and legitimately so) want to serve radio interests.

In so doing, Kwaku Ahenkorah must ensure a careful balance between which news FM or radio stations receive from Kotoko and which ones Kotoko Express and Asantekotokosc.com handle. I’m making this point not for any reason but the simple fact that, in the past, Kotoko Express for example has had to struggle for exclusive news on the club. That shouldn’t happen now.

Elsewhere, media outlets of football clubs have exclusive rights to certain information. It shouldn’t be difficult for us to do the same thing at Kotoko. I end this piece with an applause for Kwaku Ahenkorah as in his acting capacity, he worked to expectation. He can only build on the good work he has started now that he has been confirmed. Welcome and good luck, Kwaku!

Time for decisive action on Kotoko’s form

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.