Fired Kotoko coach heads to FIFA

Accra, Jan 13, GNA - Hans Dieter Schmidt, the fired Kumasi Asante Kotoko's coach is heading to the world soccer governing body, FIFA to seek refuge in the wake of his dismissal by the club.

Schmidt who received the boot only 48 hours after losing the Confederation Cup final to Accra Hearts of Oak would petition FIFA in the next few days in his quest to have the "Porcupine Warriors" honour their part of the contract to the letter.

The German will be praying FIFA to compel Kotoko to pay him his salaries for the remaining part of his contract as stated in the working agreement with the beleaguered Ghanaian club.

The coach who signed a 36 months working contract with Kotoko last May, told the GNA Sports that "a working contract must be regarded as such and that is why my lawyers would do everything possible to get the right thing done. I tell you, Kotoko won't get away with this. You can be sure of that".

The German expressed disappointment with the attitude of the top hierarchy of the club, though he reckons his present predicament comes with the job.

"You are either hired or fired in coaching, but the sort of behaviour I have seen of some people in the club has surprised me to the marrow. I simply could not believe my eyes when I received my letter of termination on the street", he added.

Schmidt who received a monthly salary of 750 thousand dollars would depart to his native Germany in two weeks time where he aims at processing his legal documents to drag the 'Reds" to the court of FIFA. It would be recalled that the coach led King Faisal to annex their first major trophy, the Coca Cola Top Four tournament last season and made a dramatic switch to Kotoko at a time the Alhaji Grunzah club was in desperate need of his services on the continental level where they made their debut.

He guided the defending league champions through the abortive Champions League fiasco and the Confederation Cup final where they edged out Enugu Rangers of Nigeria on a head to head basis to book a grand final berth with the Phobians.

The German until his sack on Wednesday, had consistently enjoyed a kingly status since joining the Kumasi-based club where he rode on the undiluted support from the fanatic army of Kotoko supporters both on and off the field.

He however became the target of criticism from both management and supporters of the club where his tactics and substitutions during games were perceived as his major low side.

The accusations reached its peak when twice the Phobians pulled even when the two most glamorous clubs locked horns in the historic maiden Confederation Cup at the Accra Ohene Djan and Kumasi Sports