Abdul Karim Zito, head coach of premier league side, Dreams FC, has said, the pressure mounted on his fellow coach at Kumasi Asante Kotoko, is unnecessary, especially at this crucial time of the season.
Coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor, head coach of Asante Kotoko, has come under intense pressure from fans, barely four months after taking charge of the team.
Coach Akonnor's side face Cameroonian giants Coton Sports De Garoua, on Sunday January 13, in the first leg of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederations Cup competition, amidst fears of possible sack, should the club fail to get favourable results.
Even though the Porcupine Warriors eliminated Kariobanji Sharks of Kenya 2-1 on aggregate in the first round of the competition, many of the club's patriots described the team's performance particularly at home, as unconvincing.
The situation, worsened when some fans threatened to sack the coach from the club's training grounds following a draw with regional rivals Ashgold in a J.A Kufuor Cup match lasy Sunday.
Consequent to this, former coach of Kotoko, Zito in an interview with the GNA Sports sympathized with his colleague and former co-worker, adding that, "he needs time" to improve the team's performance.
"I don’t think it is the right time to put pressure on him. They should give him peace of mind to work. We all know how tedious playing in Africa is, so I don’t think it is the right time," Zito said.
Zito noted that, the game against Ashgold, was a good preparations for Kotoko ahead of the match in Yaoundé and advised the team to have a defined goal going into the game.
"Kotoko is always a strong side when it comes to Africa, just like Coton Sports. They (Kotoko) should go with clear mind.
"Before every coach goes into any match, they first ask themselves the objective of the team. So they should stay focused with the objective and they will deliver."
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