Asante Kotoko set mammoth expectations for C.K. Akonnor

Kumasi Asante Kotoko have set C.K Akonnor the ambitious task of winning the CAF Champions League after appointing him as their new head coach.

Former Ghana international Akonnor has signed a three-year contract to replace Paa Kwesi Fabian, who left the Porcupine Warriors two weeks ago

Kotoko have struggled in the pan-African club competitions recently but Chief Executive George Amoako has told Akonnor that he must get the two-time African champions back up among the elite clubs.

"Apart from becoming African champions, what else would Kotoko want?" he asked KweséESPN.

"We have won many league titles in Ghana, won multiple domestic cups, been African champions twice and played in many finals, so wanting to win it again is realistic."

Kotoko's last appearance in an African club final was in 2004, when they lost the Confederation Cup to local rivals Accra Hearts of Oak.

Amoako believes that that run shows that the Ghanaian heavyweights can compete with the top clubs.

"Under Herbert Mensah, it took less than two years for us to reach an African final again," Amoako recalls. "Akonnor's target is to do this within the shortest possible time, which could mean a year, two years or beyond. We are not fixated about that.

"What we are focused on is a target to work towards," he continued. "The current team is not the best if you want to win.

"We are working to improve the quality of our team with players from the sub-region, we need to give him everything to get there."

Kotoko will be Akonnor's fifth club in a short coaching career, but the rate at which he has changed clubs is nothing compared to Kotoko's turnover of coaches.

The Porcupine Warriors have employed 21 coaches since 2005, but Amoako insists Akonnor will get the time required to leave his mark on the team.

"C.K. is good material, and we will give him the resources required to do well here," Amoako added. "There are factors we can't control on what he himself wants to do, but will make him happy and provide him what he needs."