The head coach of Asante Kotoko Mariano Barreto may have been vindicated by comments of his assistant coach Johnson Smith.
Coach Johnson Smith in an interview with the media posited that, if he is to lead the club as head coach, only four players of the current players will be retained excluding goalkeepers. His comments is in relation to disciplinary issues that had bedeviled the team in recent times. The former Berekum Arsenal coach hinted that, at a point when you decide to report the conduct of a player to management, there was none at the training grounds who will be supervising proceedings. You are left alone to take charge of the players. It is worth stressing that, Johnson Smith was at the helm of affairs before the arrival of Portuguese tactician Mariano Barreto. After the departure of coach Maxwell Konadu, Johnson Smith stepped in to stabilize the team, and set it on a winning track. But for paperwork, his name will have appeared on team sheet as the head coach instead of Gazali. Even when Mariano Barreto touched down in Ghana, he assumed office with his countrymen.
Comments by coach Johnson Smith had been shared by Mariano Barreto in a separate interview. The former Black Stars gaffer highlighted the conduct of some players during training. A player prioritizes fidgeting his mobile phone over training, whiles his colleagues concentrate. Mariano Barreto further made many revelations in the Kotoko set up.
Comments by the two coaches clearly paints the picture of events in the boardroom. Where as some suggested that, Mariano Barreto made those comments as a cover up for his inability to win the Ghana Premier League, his assistant shares same problem in the team. Did the two independent coaches decide to speak on the same issue? Did they put their heads together to let the supporters know what was happening in the team? Your guess is as good as mine. On the larger scale, the two coaches have given the extent to which player indiscipline is accounting for the abysmal performance of Asante Kotoko. As a follow up to the matter, management must own up and tackle the issue the way it ought to be dealt with. As part of measures to build a competitive side for next season, such a menace cannot be allowed to creep into the squad. The two coaches could not have come out in this manner if the issue was taken up by management as at when it needed. There is no luxury of time for both playing body and management, hence an instant action.
Content created and supplied by: Abdul-Jalilu (via Opera News )
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