In football, they say “coaches are hired to be fired.” But sometimes firing a coach comes with a huge cost especially when the issue goes to court and the coach wins the case.
In Ghana, one club that is always paying the price for sacking coaches is Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
C. K Akonnor who is currently the head coach of the Ghana national team and Kjetil Zacharriassen who replaced Akonnor all sued Kotoko for wrongful dismissal and won.
Kotoko claimed they did not sack Akonnor but rather ‘elevated’ him to the position of Technical Director, a position Akonnor turned down as that was not in his contract.
According to reports, Akonnor wanted an out of court settle due to his love for Kotoko but the Chairman of the club, Kwame Kyei turn down the offer which was brokered by the then-lawyer of the club, Sarfo Duku. The issue was sent to the Players Status Committee and it was ruled in favour of Akonnor. Kotoko later made an appeal and still lost.
Read Also
Asante Kotoko loses appeal against former coach CK Akonnor
Kotoko given 2 weeks to pay C.K Akonnor ₵ 144, 000
CK Akonnor drags Kotoko to FA Status Committee
While Kotoko and Akonnor were engaging in a thug of war, Zachariassen was making headlines as the new coach and preparing the team for the CAF Champions League.
Less than five months into his contract, the Norwegian was sacked.
Kotoko made him an offer which he rejected and Kotoko also rejected his offer.
According to the club, it was in his contract that he can be sacked for failing to qualify the club to the Champions League or the Confederation Cup group stage. Therefore, after he failed to qualify the team to the group stage of both competitions, they showed him the exit.
Zachariassen and his agent followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, Akonnor and sued the club. And just like his predecessor, he also won the case.
Read Also
Kotoko ordered to pay coach Zachariassen compensation fee
Break down of the $12,150 Zachariassen is demanding from Kotoko
I saw Zachariassen’s sacking letter on WhatsApp before I received it – Zachariassen’s agent
Kotoko sack Zachariassen
Now, the question is what is Kotoko doing wrong? Why can’t they learn from Ashanti Gold their regional rivals?
First, why Ashanti Gold and not any other club?
Those two coaches before working for Kotoko worked for Ashanti Gold and they were all sacked. Yet, they never sued the club and the club never sued them. They parted ways, moved on and Ashanti Gold did not pay a dime.
What the club is doing wrong maybe not be that simple to answer, however, in a recent interview on Kessben FM, Sarfo Duku said Kwame Kyei makes the final decision no matter what the management will say.
From the look of things, Kotoko has not been tactful in sacking their coaches. It is clear that the club does not review the contract they sign before they sack the coaches.
The question the fans of the club have been asking is what kind of clauses does the club in their contracts with the coaches they employ?
-The Post
