Coach Paa Kwasi Fabin tended in his resignation as head coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Thursday, just seven months after taking charge of the team.
The former Ghana U-17 trainer said “it is time to bow out due to circumstances beyond my control” in a letter he signed and presented to the Kotoko management.
Fabin becomes the 4th coach to either leave or be fired from a Ghana Premier League club since the Anas exposé halted football activities. Kenichi Yatsuhashi (Inter Allies and Aduana Stars), Henry Wellington (Hearts of Oak) and CK Akonnor (Ashantigold), have all lost their jobs in the months proceeding the exposé.
But did Fabin leap before he was pushed?
The relationship between the former Inter Allies boss and the club’s current management became somewhat strained after the club discovered he was negotiating a deal with a foreign club mid-August.
Footy-Ghana.com reported that officials of the club had received a film of the coach discussing terms with South African National First Division side Maccabi FC and were contemplating sacking him for breach of trust.
Insiders also indicate that the coach, for some reasons, decided not to join the team in camp prior to their two games against arch-rivals Hearts of Oak and AshantiGold last Sunday.
Earlier this week, rumours of an impending sack of Fabin were met with stiff opposition from the club’s fans who believe the coach was performing well with his team-building exercise.
Fabin, we understand, earlier this week received the strongest hint that the George Amoako-led management was planning to give him the sack latest Monday, September 17, with Brazilian Ricardo Da Rocha and CK Akonnor being discussed as replacement.
The coach subsequently failed to report for training on Wednesday citing ill health and 24 hours later, tendered his resignation letter through physical trainer Nana Osei together with whom he arrived with 7 months ago.
Explaining his decision, Fabin said, “…I deem it right to exit as the league here has been suspended and above all enable my replacement to be able to familiarize with the team and continue with the success chalked so far.”
It is however unknown if Paa Kwasi Fabin has been successful with his negotiations with the South African side, Maccabi FC.
He had about five months left on his contract with Asante Kotoko.
Fabin took charge of the Porcupine Warriors in February on a one year contract. He kept them at 4th place at the end of the first round of the 2017/2018 league season before the league was brought to an abrupt end following the Anas exposé.
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Fentuo Tahiru/citinewsroom.com/ with additional files from footy-ghana.com
