FootyDream

According to former Asante Kotoko head coach Seydou Zerbo Krol, the best player he worked with during his time at the club was midfielder Justice Blay, whom he described as having “enormous qualities.”

Seydou Zerbo was appointed as the Head Coach of Asante Kotoko ahead of the 2022/23 football season, taking over from Prosper Narteh Ogum, who had led the club to win the Premier League title in the previous season. Unfortunately, Zerbo did not meet expectations and was eventually relieved of his duties.

Despite managing many talented players at the club, Zerbo singled out Justice Blay for praise, recognizing him as a versatile player capable of executing his tactical roles within the team.

“My best player at Kotoko was Justice Blay. What a player he was. He is versatile and capable of fulfilling the roles I assigned him in the team. He was truly exceptional,” Seydou Zerbo revealed in an interview with Kumasi-based Fox FM.

Zerbo also expressed sympathy for Blay, who suffered from frequent injuries during the 2022/23 season. Despite his injury struggles, Blay managed to make 17 appearances for the Porcupines.

“It is rather unfortunate that he (Blay) has not been lucky as he gets injured frequently. Despite that, he was the best footballer in my team at Kotoko,” Zerbo added.

Despite the challenges, Justice Blay’s talent and impact were evident to the former coach, making him stand out as one of the best players during Zerbo’s time at Asante Kotoko.

Asante Kotoko is poised to receive valuable support from telecom giants MTN Ghana to finally complete their Adako Jachie project.

The long-awaited project could be brought to fruition within the next two years, thanks to the proposed assistance from MTN.

Back in 2013, during Dr. K.K Sarpong’s administration, MTN Ghana provided financial backing for the project. The telecommunications company presented a cheque of GH¢150,000 to aid in the completion of the Club’s administration block and training field at Adarko-Jachie. Over the following three years, MTN invested an additional GH¢375,000 to further support the initiative.

Despite some progress made by the administration of Nana Yaw Amponsah, the project remained incomplete, leading rival fans to use the lack of facilities as a taunting point against the Reds.

Recent reports indicate that MTN Ghana is set to return next season as the headline sponsor of Asante Kotoko. As part of this sponsorship deal, the club is expected to receive financial backing from MTN to complete the Adako Jachie project in the coming year or two.

In a move to further boost the club’s prospects, the Life Patron of Asante Kotoko, His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, engaged with former players and executives of the supporters’ group last week. He encouraged their involvement and support for the club’s welfare as they prepare for the start of the 2023/24 football season.

With MTN’s backing and the enthusiasm of the supporters, Asante Kotoko aims to realize their vision for the Adako Jachie project and strengthen their position as a prominent force in Ghanaian football.

Former Hearts of Oak goalkeeper, Sani Mohammed, has expressed serious concerns regarding his former team’s readiness for the upcoming 2023/24 league season.

Mohammed believes that the team’s chances of success in the league are in jeopardy due to their delayed preparations. As the anticipation for the new season builds, doubts surround Hearts of Oak’s ability to perform at their best on the field.

One of the major issues contributing to their uncertainty is the absence of a new head coach following the departure of Slavko Matic. Additionally, caretaker coach David Ocloo has also left the club, leaving a void in the coaching staff.

The former goalkeeper highlighted that other clubs, such as Heart of Lions and Samartex, have already begun their preparations for the upcoming season. In contrast, Hearts of Oak seems to lack direction and is yet to finalize important staff appointments.

“I am worried about Hearts of Oak because other clubs have started preparations for the upcoming season. The likes of Heart of Lions and Samartex have all started preparations but a big team like Hearts of Oak are yet to,” Sani Mohammed told Mothers 102.7FM.

According to Sani Mohammed, expecting to perform well without a coach and a goalkeeper’s trainer is an unrealistic proposition. He expressed worry for Hearts of Oak’s situation, emphasizing the importance of proper preparations for a team of their stature.

“They just don’t know their direction. Even up till now, they don’t have a coach and a goalkeeper’s trainer but they are expecting to perform well next season. It can never be possible,”

Hearts of Oak and goalkeeper Richmond Ayi have decided to part ways through mutual agreement after five years of collaboration.

Richmond Ayi, who joined the Phobians from WAFA in 2018, spent a successful five seasons with the club, during which he even earned a call-up to the Black Meteors team.

In 2022, Ayi extended his contract with the club for three more years, which was set to run until 2025. However, both parties have now reached an agreement to terminate the contract.

Rumors suggest that match-fixing allegations may have played a significant role in eroding trust between the player and the club, leading to the decision to part ways.

During his time with Hearts of Oak, Ayi achieved considerable success, winning one GPL title, two FA Cup titles, and two President’s Cup titles with the team.