Former Asante Kotoko communications director Sarfo Duku has praised the club’s board for taking what he describes as a “bold decision” to terminate the contracts of four players.
According to checks by Nhyira FM, Asante Kotoko have parted ways with striker Kwame Poku, winger Elvis Kyei Baffour, left-back Francis Acquah and goalkeeper Benjamin Twum.
The club has not publicly stated the reasons for the departures. However, Duku believes indiscipline may have played a role in the board’s decision.
Speaking exclusively to Nhyira FM, the former Kotoko management member said the club’s previous administration had faced similar disciplinary problems but did not show enough resolve to deal with them.
“Let me admit that it wasn’t the best. I strongly believe that we should have taken some bold decisions to ensure the best of discipline in the team, but at a point, we were not men enough to take those bold decisions, and it also affected the club.
“I am aware of the bold decisions they have taken [parting ways with new players]. It’s something we should have done at a point in time, but because of the way we have been brought up [we couldn’t].
“We had a terrible season though we started so well. You cannot talk about the playing body without talking about the technical handlers because I think their tactics might not have worked.
“But to the extent that things didn’t work, you cannot put the blame squarely on the players; even management had a part to play. It means we also didn’t recruit the best for the club; we have to admit,” he concluded.
Duku said the decision taken by the current board was one his own administration should also have made when it encountered difficulties within the squad.
His comments come after what he described as a poor season for the Porcupine Warriors, despite the team making a positive start to the campaign. He argued that responsibility for the club’s struggles could not be placed entirely on the players.
The former communications director also pointed to the role of the technical handlers, saying their tactics may not have produced the results required. At the same time, he accepted that management should carry part of the responsibility because the recruitment process had not delivered the strongest squad for the club.
Duku’s remarks therefore offered support for the current board while also acknowledging shortcomings within the previous administration. He said decisions linked to discipline, recruitment and technical management had all contributed to the difficulties faced by Asante Kotoko.
The four departures are the latest changes involving the playing squad, although the club has yet to provide an official explanation for terminating the players’ contracts. 大发扑克
