Kotoko and C.K. Akunnor beef resolved, Kotoko to pay huge compensation to Akunnor
Ghana giants Asante Kotoko have been ordered by the Player Status Committee of the GFA to pay compensation to their former trainer Charles Kwablan Akunnor after the 1983 African Cup of Champions Club winners terminate the contract of their former employee. The Kumasi based club appointed Akunnor in October 2018 prior to the 2018-2019 CAF Confederations Cup campaign.
Akunnor managed to place the Ghanaian champions into the group stages of the Confederation Cup but failed to qualify them to the quarter-final after his side lost 2-1 in the last group stage game against Zambian side Zesco United.
After his continental exit, the former Black Stars captain guided Kotoko to lift the maiden edition of the Normalization Committee Special Competition (Tier One) with the historic of it all beating Kotoko’s bitterest rivals Accra Hearts of Oak in the semifinals and beating stubborn Karela Unite 3-1 on penalties to lift the title.
This meant Kotoko won the slut to represent Ghana in the 2019-2020 CAF Champions League. However, the 82 Champions of African Inter Club football terminated the contract of Akunnor when it was few weeks to the start of the continental championship.
It was believed that the former Ash Gold coach turned down an offer to be the technical director of the Kotoko. If that had happened, that would be a surprise change in status and role for Akunnor, from head coach to technical director.
But as that never happened, the Ghanaian champions terminated Akunnor’s contract on one hand without the former Ash Gold trainer receiving any contractual bonuses on the other hand, as it was understood. Akunnor dragged Kotoko to the GFA Player Status Committee- a body responsible for resolving contractual problems of players and coaches in Ghana football.
On Monday afternoon, Player Status Committee of GFA issued an order to Kotoko for the payment of compensation to their former coach. The ruling came after representatives of Akunnor and Kotoko met at the GFA secretariat to settle the pending case, but the regulatory body charged Kotoko with breach of contractual terms against their former boss.
Though the amount of payment remains undisclosed, it is understood that it may cause Kotoko a huge sum of US dollars to settle C.K. Akunnor.
Before his contract termination, Akunnor was preparing his team, possible looking to fill the loop holes which led to Kotoko’s failure to qualify to the quarter-finals of the Confederation, and described the decision of Kotoko to eliminate him as the substantive coach as shock and surprise.
“it was shocking when I heard the news, I was as shocked as you were. But it has already happened and I can’t undo it”, said Akunnor.
“What I can say is that I am grateful that I was given that platform to exhibit my coaching talents”, he added.
“Whatever happens is good, look if I hadn’t gone to Ash Gold no one would have believed that I was good then I left to Kotoko when the opportunity came”, Akunnor concluded.
This new ruling will not affect the playing body when they face off Ivorian side San Pedro SC at Baba Yara Sports Stadium this Sunday as that is only a matter of legal issue.
The playing body have been preparing massively for the last two weeks ahead of the game, and Emmanuel Gyamfi, Felix Anann, Justice Blay, Patrick Yeboah, Augustine Okrah and Richard Arthur joined their team mates in training Yesterday.
