Ashanti Gold SC Chief Executive Officer [CEO] Kudjoe Fianoo has revealed that Black Stars assistant coach Maxwell Konadu was contacted to replace Bashir Hayford.
According to him, C.K. Akonnor was recommended by Maxwell Knoadu and Paa Kwesi Fabien when they all refused to come on board due to their engagement with the National Teams.”I was looking at C.K from afar. He played for Ashgold before travelling aside, played and captained the Senior National Team. I was then the welfare officer of the Black Stars. Also he was able to captain his club (Wolfsburg) in Europe.”
”He decided to coach after his playing career, I saw him at Eleven wise, Hearts of Oak and as an assistant coach with one of the National teams. At that time, we were looking for an assistant coach to Lugarisic (when he was the head coach of Ashgold), C.K. was one of the gentlemen shortlisted. He told SportsworldGhana.com in an exclusive interview.
”He was willing to come on board but due to his engagement with the National Team we couldn’t agree on a deal so Yaw Acheampong came in for that post. After Bashir Hayford’s exit, we started the search for a new coach. We talked with Maxwell Konadu but he said, NO, because of his National assignment.
”He [Maxwell Konadu] recommended C.K. Akonnor to us. We also talked with Paa Kwesi Fabien and he said he can only decide after the Youth Championship in India. But looking at our position on the league log we needed a coach urgently so we asked Paa Kwesi who does he thinks will be best for the job, he also recommended C.K. Akonnor. We spoke to C.K. Akonnor and a deal was agreed.”.
”This is the first time I have gotten close to Akonnor, I realized during our negotiations that he loves the club and feels he hasn’t paid his dues as a former player. Since his arrival, he has surprised me, his timing and his ethics.
”And it is paying off in this second round. He tells every player selected for a game what he expects from him. He is a coach who will come to the stadium, call the operations manager, and let him know that the grass of the pitch is not favorable for his game plan so it needs to be mowed. He has a very big future.”
Assessing his performance so far, Fianoo said C.K. Akonnor has been good and he has a very big future ahead of him. He also asked for the support of our former players who are into coaching and football administration.
‘’Yes, he [C.K. Akonnor] has done very well. It tells us we should help our former players who are willing to be coaches, those who have the acumen to be administrators we should help them; Opoku Nti won trophies for Kotoko when he was a football administrator, not forgetting Michael Osei.
”They tend to understand the team and the game because they have been there before. Looking at ex-players like Arhinful and the rest who have coaching certificates though, we can give them opportunities to try on administration’’, he continued.
Talking about what management is doing to help C.K. Akonnor succeed as he has been heard saying he likes to take difficult jobs, Fianoo said management are doing their best to help him deliver but do not interfere with his work.
”He does the selection himself. The transfers done by Ashgold in the second transfer window were recommended by him, and he was present when their salary negotiations were done. I witnessed it myself when people [even top coaches] asked him which risk is he about to take but he answered that is the challenge. That is one character I like about him. He is very committed to the club so management are doing their best to help him deliver. But regarding his relationship with management, he has said it himself. Because that is our [Ashgold] tradition. We don’t interfere with the work of our coaches”, he stated.
AshantiGold take on Accra Hearts of Oak at the Accra Sports stadium in their week 20 fixture as they hope to continue their unbeaten run in the second round of the Ghana Premier League.
