Sarpong Leaves Olympics

Coach J.E Sarpong says he has finally parted ways with Accra Great Olympics, citing lack of player commitment as an obstacle, which he could not surmount in the discharge of his duties.

But in a response to the latest development in the Accra-based club, Mr Richard Oblitei Solomon, Chairman of Olympics Management Committee said the coach's resignation has been accepted and that the management is holding consultations with the Board of Directors to find a worthy replacement.


Coach Sarpong who rescued Olympics from relegation last season and was named Coach of the Year by the Ghana Football Association resigned after three weeks into the new season but rescinded his decision and directed affairs in three subsequent matches without securing a point.


Speaking to the GNA at the Olympics Club House at Adabaraka in Accra on Monday, the chairman said though the relationship between the management and the coach was very cordial, their partnership has failed to meet the aspirations of the fans who are eager to see a new dawn of success which would put the club back among the giants in the country.


He said in order to reverse the trend of lack the lustre performance, which has become synonymous with the club, it is imperative that management takes the necessary action to block all the loopholes and straighten the rough edges to achieve positive results. "To achieve this, we are conferring with our Board of Directors to find a competent coach for the club within 48 hours and he would lead us to victory in our next two matches and move the club forward from there."


Mr Solomon said the normal thing, which happens in a club, which is afflicted with poor results is "for heads to roll" and they in management have started "a candid examination, with the involvement of the Board, to identify their lapses and inadequacies and address them to get the club out of the slump." He said management has encouraged and aided recruitment during the off-season while no player was sold, giving them hope that the team would flourish in the current season, as they believed the players they purchased were good.


The chairman said the downward trend of events would necessitate a "player scrutiny" and asked those who would scale the new exercise to reaffirm their commitment and prove their quality on the field to bring joy to their supporters.

He said he would not blame the fans for expressing their feelings of disgust and disappointment in a non-violent manner at the negative results the clubs has had in recent times and charged them to skip their disappointments and turn out in their numbers to cheer the team to a new revival.


Mr Solomon said since the new Management Committee took over the reigns of the club, thy have expended over ?400 million while the team continues to play at empty stadium thereby depriving them of any meaningful income. He said they in management are sacrificing in order to redeem the club from the doldrums and place it on the level that it belonged in the past when it represented the country in the African Clubs Championship.


The chairman appealed to supporters to show a little bit of love towards the club by attending matches and cheering the players when the going gets tough. The Management team at the briefing consisted of Mr Stephen Nii Adjei-Mensah, Mr Ben Boye, Mr Fleisher Djoleto, Mr Frank Davies and Dr Albert Arthur, while Mr Perry Doku and Mr David Fugah represented the Board. Also in attendance was Mr Fred Pappoe, Secretary to the club.


Meanwhile, supporters of Great Olympics are requested to meet the Board and Management Committee of the club at the club's training grounds at Kaa Jaano, Osu at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Mr Richard Oblitei Solomon, chairman of the club said the Board and the Management Committee have scheduled the meeting after the two administrative segments deliberated extensively on issues affecting the club.


He said the meeting would afford the management and supporters to exchange ideas and chart a new way forward to rescue the club from its present predicament. The chairman entreats all stakeholders, supporters, sympathisers and well-wishers to attend as their suggestions would be useful to the redemption effort.