Asante Kotoko set to sack Kjetil Zachariassen after CAF Confederation Cup exist against San Pedro?
Asante Kotoko appointed Kjetil Zachariassen as club’s boss five months ago after terminating the contract of former trainee Charles Kwablan Akunnor.
There was a mixed judgment following the exit of Kotoko in the 2018-2019 CAF Confederation Cup campaign where most of the club’s supporters sung praises onto C.K Akunnor for at least granting them a group stage football in the Confederation Cup- something that the Ghanaian side had gone 10-years without having a glimpse of it.
The management of Kotoko on the other hand despite applauding Akunnor for his best serves in the 2019 Confederation Cup, they interpreted from a bigger picture that Akunnor’s failure to qualify Kotoko out of the group stage of the Confederation Cup is a general degrade of the two times CAF Champions League winner in continental competitions.
In fact, stronger and better hands than what Akunnor did- as management of the club had described- was necessary to getting Kotoko back to where they have ever belonged to on the Africa continent.
Kjetil Zachariassen was the preferred man to drive Kotoko to the ever-promising and beautiful in nature, but a non-achieving dream as the Norwegian was signed on a three-year deal.
Portion of Zachariassen’s deal read, “Kjetil Zachariassen’s contract would see him through the 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, and he is expected to lead the Porcupines to the group stage of the Champions League in the first season.
“The second-year should also see him qualify the team for the Champions League again with the target of a semi-final berth.
“The Champions League qualification is also expected the following year, this time around with a place in the final on the cards.
“The Porcupines would take solace in three CAF Confederation Cup campaigns within Kjetil Zachariassen’s three-year period should they fail to make the Champions League mark.”
“The club, however, expects to win at least one of the three competitions within the period of the relationship with the coach.”
In relation to Zachariassen’s contractual terms, it is believed that the Norwegian was cornered to perform in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup with at least sending the Porcupine Warriors into group stages of the competitions during his three-year spell in the club.
But Zachariassen’s first five months in the club has been somehow a failure as he failed to reach the group stage of any of the two CAF competitions. First, Zachariassen was leapfrogged 3-2 on aggregate by Etoile du Sahel in the first round of the 2020 Champions League, therefore dropping to the Confederation play-off against San Pedro.
Second, San Pedro edged past Zacahriassen’s side on 2-1 aggregate after beating the Ghanaian side 2-0 in the return leg at Houphouet Boigny on Sunday.
According to reports in Ghana, the management of the Ghana Premier League giants are unhappy with the performance of their coach, and his sack is very near. It is understood that management of Kotoko have already decided to terminate the contract of Zachariassen.
Although there aren’t any shortlists for the job yet, 2019 WAFU finalist Maxwell Konadu could take charge at his former club Asante Kotoko.
