Asante Kotoko Head Coach Charles Kwablah Akonnor has revealed he felt sad when supporters of the club called for his exit in the early stages of his appointment.
The former Ghana international was subjected to serious pressure after failing to beat Regional rivals Ashanti Gold SC in the JAK Foundation Cup match but a double over Conton Sports of Cameroon in the CAF Confederation Cup has seen him earned massive praise from the same supporters who called for his head.
Akonnor, guided the porcupine Warriors to secure qualification to the Group Stages of the 2018-2019 CAF Confederation Cup for the first time in eleven [11] years after recording a 5-3 aggregate scoreline over Camreroon champions Coton Sports.
Speaking in an interview with Kumasi-based Metro FM a day after the historic qualification, Akonnor commended the supporters for their impressive turnout on Sunday at the Baba Yara Stadium but disclosed he wasn’t a happy man when the fans kept calling for his head.
‘’I’m grateful to my technical team, the management, the playing body and everyone involved at the club’’ Akonnor to Metro FM in an interview on Monday.
“I was sad when people were calling for my head at the early stages but it’s part of the job so I took it in good faith “
“I understand the supporters because I am at a big club (Kotoko) and the only thing the Supporters expect is success, Kotoko is the biggest club in Ghana in terms of history and everything.
“We beat Cotonsport again not because they are not good,but it’s because we improved our game, we are all working together and that’s the most important thing for us, we are improving week in week out and that’s very good for us.
“The Kariobangi Sharks game cannot be compared to Cotonsport game because the Kariobangi Sharks game helped us improved going into this Game (Cotonsport game).
“We will work hard and continue to believe because hard work pays.
Commenting on Monday’s draw for the group stage, Akonnor said the Ghanaian giants will welcome any group they find themselves in and work assiduously to make it past the group stage of the competition.
“We are waiting for the draw today and we will prepare for every opponent we meet, we are not afraid of any opponent and we will be ready for any team that comes our way.
“Im grateful to our supporters for their support yesterday and I will urge them to keep supporting us on our way forward “ he concluded.
