Frimpong Manso joins Kotoko bench

One-time Asante Kokoto stalwart, Frimpong Manso, has been invited by Dr Kyei’s management to assist stand-in Coach Godwin Ablordey to re-chart a new path for the club and work in line with the Life Patron, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s directive to return Kotoko to Africa.

Ablordey, who until last Monday was an assistant to the sacked 52-year-old Croatian trainer Zdravko Lugarusic, was named the stand-in coach until a substantive coach is appointed, and the presence of Manso on the Kotoko bench is to team up with Ablordey to stir the team on to the right path.

The management of the club arrived at the decision after last Sunday night’s meeting in Kumasi following the coach's second home drawn game at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi against Ebusua Dwarfs. 

Despite helping the club to occupy the second spot on the 16-club league on 19 points, Lugarusic's sack was to be anticipated after he was chased out of the Ajako Jachie training grounds last Friday by irate fans.

The former Black Stars defender was given a verbal appointment yesterday to be followed by a written communication covering the last four matches of the first round of the Ghana Premier League.

The Public Affairs Manager of the club, Obed Acheampong, told the Daily Graphic on phone yesterday that the urgency of the situation did not require a written letter immediately, but added that the ‘right thing will be done.’

Even without a formal commitment and contract, Manso expressed his delight on radio to assist to reshape the club to takeover the summit of the league table.

Manso explained that his role was not ‘really an assistant position’, but was to help his younger colleague, Ablordey, with his knowledge in the game to resuscitate the club.

The once strong defender is expected to bring his rich experience for training acquired from Germany to push the club and re-occupy the top spot.

Manso, together with former Black Stars assistant coach Maxwell Konadu benefitted from the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) capacity-building programme of selected local coaches, and were subsequently sent to Germany for a two-year training course to take over the junior national teams.

He was one time in charge of the national under-17 team, the Black Starlets, but failed to make it to the world competition.