Monday, July 12, 2010

JOHNSON SMITH QUITS KOTOKO FOR ARSENAL (PAGE 62, JULY 12, 2010)

KUMASI Asante Kotoko assistant coach, Johnson Smith, has quit the club to begin a new life as head coach of Berekum Arsenal.
The man, who was widely expected to remain with Kotoko after major changes in the managerial and technical division a couple of weeks ago signed a two-year contract with Arsenal last Saturday.
“We completed everything with him today (Saturday) and I can confirm to you that Smith is now with us,” Arsenal CEO, Alhaji Yakubu Moro, told the Daily Graphic on telephone from his base at Berekum.
The CEO would however not disclose the monetary details in the deal but said the two parties were satisfied with everything.
Smith’s departure had come as a surprise to Asante Kotoko who claimed that the coach did not inform the club before leaving.
A source at Kotoko told the Daily Graphic that Kotoko would have wished that the assistant coach gave them prior information about his decision to leave. That notwithstanding they would still wish him the best in his endeavours
Until his departure, Smith, who had been in and out of Kotoko on few occasions, was expected to remain as the assistant to newly appointed coach, Ebo Mends.
His departure means, Ebo Mends would have to start looking for an assistant at Kotoko.
Incidentally, Mends was also with Arsenal last season and left the club to join Asante Kotoko this season.
Alhaji Yakubu said Arsenal had a lot of confidence in Smith to carry the club to another significant level.
He said the club want to take the next season with all seriousness that was why an experienced coach in the person of Smith had been appointed.

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