64-year-old Portuguese newly signed coach of Asante Kotoko Mariano Barreto will have to wait before having his debut match for his new club.
Ghanasportspage.com has been told the Fabulous club could not complete the registration process to enable the former Black Stars coach to lead the team from the bench when Kotoko face Eleven Wonders of Techiman in the first match of the second round of the league
The coach could not obtain the work permit as well as the residence permit with which Kotoko could have used to register their coach with the Ghana Football Association.
Investigations indicate Kotoko tried to fast-track the process with the Ghana Immigration Service but it could not materialize. The two assistants of Barreto who are also from Portugal are also not allowed to sit at the bench of Kotoko as their documents are not ready too.
Kotoko arrived in Techiman with Barreto among the traveling squad and in charge of selecting the players for the match tomorrow but he can only watch the match from the stands as a Kotoko official.
The coach was spotted at the team hotel giving out instructions on preparations for the match and trying to find out more from management and his Ghanaian technical assistants on strategies to win the match.
However, the onus falls on Abdulai Gazelle once again to act as the head coach of Asante Kotoko with Johnson Smith assisting him.
Kotoko and Wonders Drew in the first round match at the Accra Sports Stadium and the two sides are pulling no punches as the three points on stake must be won at all cos
