The Asante Kotoko assistant manager has said Ghana Football Association (GFA) suspending head coach Mariano Barreto and winger Emmanuel Gyamfi few hours to kickoff their MTN FA Cup tie against Asokwa Deportivo on Tuesday was distracting.
Kotoko, although went on to beat Deportivo 2-1 to progress to the next stage, Johnson Smith believes the timing of the announcement by the GFA was disturbing and it affected the team.
“Some things are really disturbing. You don’t ban a player or a coach on the day we are done with selection; it should be communicated two or three days before so we can exclude him(player) in our preparation.
“But we have included him and as we are done with everything then we see announcement of a ban.
“Yeah It affected us because this is not how we wanted to play.” He said after the game
Barreto was in the stands as he served one of his two games ban and GHC 3,000 fine for his ‘offensive’ comment about referees over a month a go against Legon Cities, the association deem the statement inappropriate for the reputation of the league.
Also, Emmanuel Gyamfi missed the match due to a one game ban and GHC1,000 fine as retrospective punishment for his misconduct committed at the blind side of the referee during Kotoko’s win against Inter Allies on week 29.
Due to the suspension, the Reds will miss their Portuguese gaffer against Bechem United this weekend but Smith says being on the touch line on Sunday will not change his role as assistant coach.
“He is the head coach and thus is still in charge of everything so am just supporting him. I do what he says.”
“It is a must win” he added
