Asante Kotoko’s Premier League form has fallen off a cliff in recent weeks raising questions about the future of head coach Mariano Barreto and who could potentially replace him at the club if he leaves.
The pressure on Barreto might just have reached its peak following Kotoko’s latest setback.
Kotoko are on a wretched run of form, allowing Hearts of Oak to clinch the Premier League with a game to spare, with the Portuguese gaffer hinted at ending his marriage with the club after the season.
Barreto may have done a fine job since taking over the coaching role at the start of the second round, but after failing to kick on despite the materials at his disposal, calls for him to be sacked are getting louder with each Kotoko slip-up.
And although the club’s management has been silent on Barreto’s future during their run of poor form, we can state that the club has drawn up a three-man shortlist of potential candidates to replace Barreto when he leaves at the end of the season.
Ibrahim Tanko
The former Black Stars forward has been hotly linked with a move to the Porcupine Warriors on more than one occasion, and you can expect his name to once again be the frame should Kotoko decide to replace Barreto.
Tanko has never hidden his desire to coach any of the country’s football behemoths, but whether he has the heart and stomach to contain the pressure that comes with the Kotoko job is open to debate.
Ibrahim Tanko will be a popular choice to fill the vacant position if fans’ forums are to be believed.
Annor Walker
Since taking over the Olympics job, Walker has gained a reputation as one of the best tactical brains in the division. He is the reason why Konadu and Barjaktarevic lost their jobs because his Great Olympics defeated Legon Cities and Asante Kotoko in a stupendous fashion.
Walker, already an icon at Olympics, clearly loves life at Accra but you get the sense that in order to make the next step up in his managerial career, he needs a spell with one of the big boys in the league.
Kotoko, despite their current position, have oceans of potential and now bags of cash so they should do everything in power to lure Walker to the club.
The ever-positive Walker boasts strong man-management skills and a preference for an attacking approach, which could be music to the ears of toothless Kotoko’s struggling strike force.
Mas-Ud Didi Dramani
He needs no introduction at the club. He is a proven winner and is currently in the country after ending his 3-year stint with Danish club FC Nordsjælland.
Didi won the Premier League on two successive seasons with Asante Kotoko in the 2012-2013 season and 2013-2014 season after replacing Maxwell Konadu who had left to join the Black Stars.
