Kumasi Asante Kotoko got kicked out of the MTN FA Cup at Nana Agyemang Badu I Sports Stadium last Sunday, February 26, 2023.
The team has the President’s Cup, which has been aligned with the Hearts of Oak match scheduled for Sunday, March 5, in Accra, to serve as the 2023 President’s Cup and also compete for the betPawa Premier League championship.
Seydou Zerbo replaced Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum after the 2021–2022 league season. His appointment was announced when Kotoko made a trip to Rail Club de Kadiogo in the preliminary stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
Asante Kotoko has struggled in the Premier League under Seydou Zerbo’s guidance, trailing leaders Aduana Stars by 7 points in the Ghana Premier League and being knocked out of the FA Cup.
After making shocking allegations that Aduana Stars manipulate their home games in their favour, Zerbo sparked intense controversy. As a result, the former head coach of ASFA Yennenga and Rail Club du Kadiogo was called before the Ghana FA’s Ethics Committee for outrageous claims that jeopardized the integrity and credibility of Ghanaian domestic football.
“I’m not a person that talks about officiating, but the way they threatened the referee at halftime, that’s why he changed his mind,” Zerbo stated after Aduana was awarded a penalty against his side at Dormaa.
This statement disclosed by the head coach of Asante Kotoko has compelled renowned sports journalist Richmond Opoku Afriyie to descend angrily on the coach while he was on a radio program at Adehyea FM in Kumasi.
The management of Asante Kotoko faced criticism for choosing to hire the Burkinabe over other qualified local coaches who were available from Opoku Afriyie, a specialized Ghanaian local sports anchor.
Top Ghanaian journalist Richmond Opoku Afriyie, also known by his stage name “Pkay,” has criticized the choice to hire the 59-year-old.
Opoku Afriyie fumed on Kumasi-based Adehyea FM: “This man does not even deserve to be a physical instructor of Asante Kotoko, with the greatest of respect to physical instructors! This coach (Seydou Zerbo) wants to tell the whole world that the performance of Aduana Stars is not credible and they do not deserve to be on top of the league table. He is questioning why Aduana Stars are on top of the league.”
“I’m not even sure why he was appointed as Kotoko’s coach in the first place. What are his principles? What is his style of play for Asante Kotoko? What change has he brought to this Kotoko team? Opoku Afriyie questioned the management of Asante Kotoko.
