Former Ghana coach Charles Kwabla Akonnor urges Asante Kotoko fans to exhibit patience and support coach Prosper Narteh Ogum during the club's recent struggles in the Ghana Premier League.
The Porcupines have faced challenges since the resumption of the domestic top-flight in February, managing only one win in the second round of the campaign, coupled with five losses and one draw.
In an interview with Akoma FM, Akonnor, who previously coached the Ghanaian giants, calls for understanding and patience from the club's supporters towards Ogum.
"I plead with the fans to exercise patience, as Ogum has proven himself time and time again and we have faith in him to make things right," Akonnor emphasizes.
Highlighting the crucial role of both players and the coach in football, Akonnor encourages players to heed the coach's instructions and improve their performance to overcome the current challenges.
“Since the players are the primary actors in football, they must assist the coach, but since the coach is constantly criticized, I asked the players to pay close attention to what the coach asks of them and improve their performance in order for them to get out of the situation”
“I will continue to beg the supporters to exercise patience and haste when making decisions because firing the coach rarely resolves the issue”
Akonnor underscores the importance of patience in managerial decisions, citing examples of successful teams like Arsenal with Mikel Arteta and Liverpool with Jurgen Klopp, where patience with the coach led to exceptional performance.
“We can all attest that teams that practice patience with their coach perform exceptionally well; Arsenal, with Arteta and Jurgen Klopp, is a prime example of this”
Despite the high expectations at a prestigious club like Kotoko, Akonnor advocates for patience and time for Ogum to implement his strategies and bring about positive results.
“Perhaps Ogum has more to accomplish and a year is insufficient. Even though Kotoko is a large club with high expectations, sometimes patience and time is what the need”
Asante Kotoko currently occupies the 9th position on the Ghana Premier League table with 34 points from 24 matches, as they strive to overcome their challenges and return to winning ways under Ogum's leadership.
