Asante Kotoko head coach, Prosper Narteh Ogum, on Wednesday, July 20 was reported to have left his role after less than 10 months in charge.
The Black Galaxies assistant coach joined the club from West African Football Academy [WAFA] before the start of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season on a two year deal.
The 44 year old’s resignation came as a shock to the club following his impressive performance last season and also becoming the fan’s favorite.
The former WAFA coach is said to have resigned due to lack of respect shown him by the management team and also issues with the recruitment ahead of the upcoming season.
Below are some key points for his resignation.
- 1. There was a rift between the management of Asante Kotoko and Prosper Narteh Ogum on player selection. He was questioned for handing starting roles to some players ahead of Fabio Gama
- 2. There was a meeting before match-day 27 of sacking Prosper Narteh Ogum for not compromising on some of their decision but the management feared the aftermath [because he had become the fans’ favorite despite some home defeats]
- 2. Prosper Narteh Ogum felt the management has been backing some players like Stephen Amankona and Patrick Asmah after gross misconduct.
- 3. Prosper Narteh Ogum disclosed to some close associates that the management has been disrespecting him on some technical issues. He knew nothing about the two-week trial of Mudasiru Salifu, Andrews Appau, and Richard Boadu at Sheriff Tiraspol.
- 4. Prosper Narteh Ogum also cautioned the management not to talk to players who were not on his wishlist. These were some of the players on his list Samuel Osei Kuffour, Abdulai Iddrisu, Razak Abdul Yussif and Joseph Tetteh Zutah
- 5. The management kicked against his decision to sign Joseph Tetteh Zutah from Medeama SC. He insisted Tetteh Zutah is a topmost target for his next season’s campaign.
- 6. Prosper Narteh Ogum told the Board during the meeting that he is not happy with the club’s transfer activity and the attitude of some management members.
- 7. Prosper Narteh Ogum expressed his worry over the conspicuously missing of the club’s board and management members at his late dad’s one-week celebration.
- 8. Prosper Narteh Ogum refused to compromise with the club’s transfer activity of selling some key players during the meeting. A board member asked him “Can you get us the $3 million budget for the 2022/23 season’s campaign if you insist some of the players shouldn’t be sold?….. If you can get us that money, they’ll stay”
- 9. Prosper Narteh Ogum had 17 players on his wishlist for Asante Kotoko’s next season campaign. He asked the club [board and management members] to get rid of 10 players. The club disagreed with him on recruiting 17 new playings and offloading 10 players.
- 10. Prosper Narteh Ogum verbally told the Board during the meeting that he can’t continue his duties as Asante Kotoko’s head coach
- 11. Prosper Narteh Ogum has not been paid since March [Four Months + Winning bonuses].
Meanwhile, Administrative Manager, Emmanuel Newton Dasoberi has confirmed Dr Prosper Narteh Ogum’s resignation ahead of their CAF Champions League.
“The coach has not formally written to the club about his resignation, but even when some members tried to persuade him to change his mind, he responded that his decision was final,” Dasoberi told the Daily Graphic.
He added that Prosper Narteh resigned from his position after his proposal to sign 17 new players was rejected by the Board.
“During the meeting with the board to discuss his report to the management, there was a disagreement over his request to sack 10 players and recruit 17 new players, including four center-backs.”
“It was at the point when some members of the board questioned the justification of some of his requests that Coach Prosper Ogum said he had a two-year contract but wanted to move on with his life, so the club must look for a new coach,” he added.
