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Malik for Kotoko  top job?
Former Technical Director of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Malik Jabir

Malik for Kotoko top job?

Former Technical Director of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Malik Jabir, is likely to make a return to the club after 10 years absence to handle the team’s last few matches as they fight to reclaim the Premier League title they surrendered to regional rivals, AshantiGold.

Kotoko sources told the Graphic Sports on Tuesday that the experienced coach’s name had been proposed for consideration to assist caretaker coach, Michael Osei, to win the league.

Acting General Manager, Samuel Opoku Nti, said the club was yet to sit with Osei to explain issues to him and the need for someone to assist him.

But even before the Kotoko management could meet Coach Osei, his assistant and current team manager, Godwin Ablordey is resisting such a move because he claims there is no need to hire another technical brain.

“We don't need any fresh coach.  We are capable because we have done a lot with the current players and I hope we can deliver.

“In any case, what is the new coach coming to add. We have done all there needs to be done. And we shall get better,” Ablordey, fondly referred to as ‘Champion’ during his playing days, told a post-match conference after last Sunday’s 1-1 drawn game against Accra Hearts of Oak in Kumasi.

The proposed hiring of the veteran Jabir is viewed in certain circles as a coup d’état against the current technical team headed by Osei.

Indeed, one of such people backing Coach Osei is board member Kwaku Amponsah (K 5) who insisted yesterday that it did not make economic sense for Kotoko to hire another technical person.

“Kotoko owes players GH¢200,000, Graphic Communications Group Limited GH¢170,000, as well as unspecified amount against former coach David Duncan; so why do we want to increase the club’s debt portfolio?” K5 questioned in a radio interview last Tuesday.

He said it was time the club reposed confidence in Coach Osei to deliver on his promise of winning the league trophy rather than jumping from one coach to another.

The 71-year-old former coach of Burkina Faso side, ASFA Yennega, and onetime Technical Director of Kano Pillars of Nigeria had headed the technical department of Kotoko during the 2005-2006 season but had not been actively involved in club football in recent years for which reason some of the old players of Kotoko feared he could be out of touch with the game.

However, he was in charge of the national Olympic team, Black Meteors, when they failed to qualify for the maiden African Under-23 tournament in Senegal last year, which served as qualifiers for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

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