Former Black Stars manager James Kwesi Appiah edging closer to be named new head coach for Asante Kotoko
Former Black Stars boss James Kwesi Appiah is edging closing for the Asante Kotoko coaching job, according to latest reports.
Kwesi Appiah is very close to be appointed the permanent head coach of Ghana Premier League giants Asante Kotoko, claimed by Kumasi based Radio Station Nhyira FM.
The last two season’s Premier League champions fired former boss Seydou Zerbo in the course of the 2023-2024 season with which Medeama Sporting Club beat them to the ultimate at the end of last term.
Kotoko are in a situation of making many decisions ahead of next season including their managerial role. The club’s patron Nana Otumfour Osei Tutu II has already dissolved the board and management following expiration of their 3-year tenure of office.
The board has reportedly been summoned at the Manhyia Palace to account for their office coming Friday or Monday.
Before this major changes in the club, Asante Kotoko had been linked with a plethora of managers amid replacing Seydou Zerbo. Futball Surgery Sports reported months ago that Akwesi Appiah had begun discussing with Kotoko over a possible move to replace Seydou Zerbo at the end of the season.
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The Futball Surgery Sports report appeared Akwesi Appiah was likely to beat other top Ghanaian coaches Charles Kwablan Akonnor, Dr Prosper Narteh Ogum, Bashir Hayford, Samuel Boadu and Ibrahim Tanko and former Stallion of Burkina Faso manager Kamou Malo to Kotoko’s coaching role.
This report has been fast in making with Appiah now taking a significant step in securing a move to his former side.
Akwesi Appiah has met with the club’s top most hierarchy Nana Otumofu Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace on Tuesday, a day after the club’s board was dissolved, suggesting the former Black Stars boss will be appointed Kotoko’s new coach.
Among the coaches linked with Kotoko, Akwesi Appiah is the only one who has met officials at the Manhyia Palace, a key feature of a potential candidate to be named the new head coach of the club.
Since holding talks with the club’s management in May, Kwesi Appiah travelled to London and it is understood he came back to complete his pending move to Asante Kotoko.
Kotoko won the Ghana Premier League last two seasons under the guidance of Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum but lost the title to Medeama SC. With the ongoing changes, Manhyia Palace is expected to announce a new board of directors for Kotoko in coming days.
Kwesi Appiah played for Kotoko between 1983 and 1993 and became the assistant coach for the side between 1992 and 1995.
He was named the head coach in 1995 and left the position in 1996. The 63-year old was named the assistant Black Stars coach between 2007 and 2012. Appiah was Black Stars boss between 2012 and 2014 and 2017 and 2020.
He last engaged in coaching with Kenpong Football Academy from 2021-2023.
