Accra Hearts of Oak coach, Didi Dramani, has described the dismissal of fellow coach Karim Zito as an unfortunate but common reality in modern football, stressing that coaches are frequently judged unfairly based solely on match results.
Speaking on the development, Dramani said Zito’s situation is not unusual in the coaching profession, noting that managerial changes have become a normal part of the game worldwide.
According to him, coaches are often blamed for outcomes that are beyond their direct control, even though their primary responsibility lies in shaping team performance, structure, and behavior rather than determining split-second decisions made by players during matches.
“It’s not the first time he has left a coaching role, and it won’t be the last,” Dramani explained. “Unfortunately, many people do not fully understand how the fundamentals of the game work. Coaches are seen as solely responsible for results, but that is not always the case,” he told Joy Sports.
He emphasized that while coaches design tactical systems, build team chemistry, and prepare players mentally and physically, decisive moments on the pitch ultimately depend on players’ instant decisions — whether to pass, shoot, cross, or head the ball.
“These decisions happen in split seconds,” he noted. “A coach cannot control exactly what a player chooses to do in that moment. What we control are the structures, cues, and models that help players improve their decision-making.”
Dramani further argued that football outcomes can sometimes be influenced by unpredictable factors, such as weather conditions or accidental moments during play, yet coaches are still held accountable.
“Imagine it rains, a player slips, and the ball goes in — why should a coach be responsible for that?” he questioned.
Despite acknowledging the harsh reality, the Hearts of Oak coach admitted that results will always define how managers are evaluated globally.
“In football, you are judged by outcomes, not just by playing good football,” he said. “That is the nature of the profession, and it is difficult to change.”
Asante Kotoko are on a horrific run winning just one of their last six matches.
They sit 5th on the league table and have exited the MTN FA Cup with minimal chances of playing in CAF interclub competition next season.
The poor run led to the sacking of head coach Abdul Karim Zito.
