"I was sacrificed for sponsorship" - Duncan

Accra, Sept 8, GNA - Coach David Duncan has spilt the beans that led to his exit from the South Africa Premier Soccer League' (PSL) outfit, Free State Stars.

Duncan exited the Club in August after a three-month reign in a manner that raised many questions.

The tough talking trainer told GNA Sports in Accra that he was "sacrificed" for a sponsorship deal by the Club, which he led to win the inaugural Phakisa Cup in July.

Initial reports had suggested the coach quit following a clash with Technical Director, Owen da Gama, but coach Duncan said parting ways with the Club was on a mutual agreement.

Coach Duncan said he was enjoying his reign until the Club's Management informed him Da Gama had been imposed on them by a sponsor.

He told GNA Sports "I was not informed about the appointment of Da Gama but I told management I was okay as long as it will not conflict with my role."

The disclosure, he said was after he had sought to alert Management to the extent with which Da Gama was attempting to take over training and other technical duties of the Club.

The trainer said it was at that point that the Club opted to fulfill the sponsor's insistence of making Da Gama the face of the Free State-Province based club.

Coach Duncan said it became evident that the Club was unwilling to let the unprecedented 25 million Rand sponsorship windfall slip through and had to sacrifice him.

Free State Stars, according to the former Ashgold trainer reached a compensation agreement him before his departure. Duncan became the first Ghanaian to have handled a PSL side.