Coach Addo's Move To Kotoko halted?

Coach Herbert Addo's dramatic switch to Kumasi Asante Kotoko hit a bad patch last Wednesday when the Board of Directors of Kumasi Asante Kotoko kicked against the idea at the last minute.

According to Graphic Sports investigations, majority of the board members were not enthused about the coach's appointment simply because of his link with Hearts. Coach Addo was relieved of his post as the head coach of Hearts last week after spending two seasons with the club.

Before the Board meeting, however, plans were far advanced to give Kotoko's coaching job to Herbert Addo. Indeed he was given a one-year contract and was expected to assume duty on Monday, according to information gathered by this paper.

This follows a meeting between the coach and some Kotoko officials last Thursday.That particular meeting which had the acting Chief Executive, Malik Jabir, and board member, Mr Kwabena Kesse, was said to have discussed in detail Herbert's job description as a co-coach with newly-signed German trainer Hans Kodrich who is expected to begin work immediately.

While Mr Kesse who was instrumental in striking the transaction was still committed to the move, the other board members reportedly frowned upon it perhaps due to the fact that Herbert was coming from a rival club. When contacted yesterday, Coach Malik was tight-lipped on the issue and only stated that the board would come out with its decision today.

However, efforts to reach Mr Kesse who had promised to release the outcome of the board's decision on the coach to this paper ended on rocks.Coach Addo who signed a one-year contract with Hearts two seasons ago agreed in principle to stay with the club last season. But while he was still studying a new two-year contract drafted by Hearts officials, came the sudden announcement of his removal last week Monday.

But in a rare case of crossing carpet to join a rival camp, Coach Addo decided to reconsider an earlier offer from Kotoko made before the Coca-Cola Top 4 competition.

Herbert Addo's coaching exploits dates back to 1982 when he led Sekondi Hasaacas to win the WAFU Cup before repeating the same feat with Kumasi Cornerstone later on.

In 1997, he supervised Obuasi Goldfields to the final of the maiden CAF Champions League only to lose the trophy to Raja Casablanca on penalties.