David Duncan sidelined players signed by Didi Dramani - Richard Mpong reveals

Former Asante Kotoko winger Richard Mpong has revealed how he struggled under coach David Duncan because he was brought to the club by Didi Dramani.

According to him, Duncan sidelined all players signed by his predecessor Dramani including himself when he took over at the club.

Mpong claims Duncan's reason was that he thought Dramani's players would sabotage his work.

Duncan was named as Didi Dramani's replacement in 2015. The latter had been in charge for three seasons and won two league titles.

“When Duncan succeeded Didi Dramani, there were talks in town as to who is better since Didi had been a CAF instructor who was teaching most of the local coaches.

“That actually affected us because Duncan started sidelining all the players who were signed by Didi because he thought we’ll sabotage him,” Mpong revealed.

“In fact, a day before Kotoko played against MC El Eulma in the CAF Champions League in 2015, Duncan invited all the players and told us those who joined under Didi and think we can’t play for the club again should own up. No one knew what triggered that."

“We’re shocked because none of us had even thought of that. That really affected us and none of us was able to play well in the game which we eventually lost 2-1 at home,” he added.

The Elmina Sharks player spent four years at Kotoko between 2012 and 2016 after joining from Medeama. Mpong helped Kotoko win two league titles and two FA Cup trophies.