Deliver results or be fired, Otumfuo tells Korak

By: David Kyei

Date: 16-02-11

The owner, spiritual head and life patron of Fabulous Asante Kotoko F.C, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has clearly told technical head, Bogdan Korak that he demands nothing but good work and appreciable results as these are the only things that can secure the coach’s stay at the club.

He has also been given the full assurance and support to go ahead by wasting no time to axe any player whose actions and behaviour in the club points to nothing but a mere fact of being at the club for the monetary gains and not for the love of the club.

These admonitions were given to the coach as he was formally introduced to Otumfuo as he sat in court at the Manhyia Palace last Thursday. 

The Executive Board Chairman, Dr. K. K. Sarpong led a team of two of his management lieutenants, Ben Nti and George Amponsah Duodo to introduce the coaches of the club to Otumfuo.

Communicating through interpreter, Ayeh Popovic, Otumfuo welcomed the coaches into his Kingdom and assured them that all things would be placed at their disposal for them to achieve success for the club.

Linking the Kotoko to his soul and that of the club, he had unequivocal advice for the coaches who kept nodding in admiration for Otumfuo’s deed thoughts of a brief speech.

“Whilst I welcome you into my Kingdom, I want to inform you that the club you are coaching now is unlike any other football club”.

“As the Asantehene, Kotoko is my soul and so is it the soul of Asanteman. I therefore want you to know that we demand nothing but good results from you and the technical team”.

“Whilst we will support you at all times to perform, I will also like you to know that I will also not hesitate to get you kicked out and leave my club”.

“We have employed you based on the credentials and your promise to deliver, hence any deviation from that would not be tolerated”.

To achieve the desired results, Otumfuo asked that the coaches continue their training well with discipline as their cornerstone.

“Do not therefore hesitate to kick out any player who shows signs that they are not prepared to stick to the Kotoko ambition. No player is bigger than Kotoko and so do not let any of them with big egos worry you. Just kick that person out and you will have my fullest support when it comes to instilling discipline in the team”.

Responding to Otumfuo’s admonition speech, Coach Korak thanked the king for the opportunity to appear before him and expressed the joy of having a real feel of Asante tradition and culture.

“I am here to work and I assure our King that I will not disappoint him. We are going to give more than 100% work and the success story to be written would be enjoyed by all”.

Being their first time at the Manhyia Palace and first hand experience with Asante tradition and culture on display, coaches Bogdan Korak and Slobodan Gnjidic kept a close walking distance to the ever confident and charismatic Dr. K. K Sarpong as they made their way through the thick crowd at the palace.