Ahead of his scheduled meeting with the Professor Lydia Nkansah led three-member investigative committee on Wednesday, former coach and player of Asante Kotoko, Michael Osei, has revealed the rational behind his decision not to battle the club for his legitimate compensation package which still remains unpaid.
After sacking head coach David Duncan in late 2016, Asante Kotoko elevated then assistant coach Michael Osei to be acting head coach, who prepared the team throughout the preseason and into the season proper. In January 2017, Asante Kotoko, under the then new Dr. Kwame Kyei led administration, demoted the coach by reassigning him to be the technical director of the the junior team.
A letter titled ” “RE-ASSIGNMENT AS TECHNICAL DIRECTOR – YOUTH TEAM”, signed by the Administrative Manager of the club, Rose Padmore Yeboah, was served on coach Michael Osei. The club later took to its official website to announce the decision.”Coach Michael Osei has been moved to the Youth Team of Kotoko in accordance with clause 3(2) of his employment contract with the club. The decision was taken by Management on Monday, January 23, 2017. Michael Osei until this decision was an Assistant Coach at the senior team”, the club announced on its official website.
Michael Osei, who felt demoted and with his contract breached by the club, turned down the new portfolio assigned him and demanded for compensation. Till the time of writing, Asante Kotoko has not paid the compensation to the coach despite threatening to pursue the case at the Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
Speaking exclusively to ghanasportspage.com on Tuesday, Michael Osei revealed reasons why he decided not to take any legal action against the club, and hopes the issue will be discussed with potential assurances of compensating as he is due, when he meets the Professor Lydia Nkansa led committee tomorrow.
“They did not pay anything to me (in compensation) and I couldn’t do anything because of Otumfour”, coach Michael Osei revealed. “I’m a former player and somebody who Otumfour laid his hands on me and blessed me and issue like this comes up, I can’t go behind him and take the case anywhere”, he stated.
Asante Kotoko have since paid compensations to some coaches they sacked after Michael Osei left, but have since not made any efforts to settle Michael. Coaches who have benefited financially from compensation packages due not unlawful dismissals include Kjetil Zachariassen (paid) and now CK Akonnor whose payment is still pending after the club appealed against the ruling by the Disciplinary Committee, which vindicated CK Akonnor earlier. Michael Osei has revealed he will raise the issue at the meeting tomorrow at the meeting with the Manhyia instituted committee.
“But I will talk about it tomorrow (Wednesday), my case is the same as that of CK, the same reassignment to be a Technical Director, I was even asked to go to the U-20”, he confirmed with laughter on the lighter note.
Coach Michael Osei arrived in Kumasi from Accra on Tuesday, and will meet the committee tomorrow, Wednesday May 13, 2020 at 11:00am. To recall, the three-member Professor Lydia Nkansa committee was constituted by the life patron of Asante Kotoko, His Majesty Otumfour Osei Tutu II, to investigate issues confronting the club which have led to the payments of judgement debts over the years. The committee were given four weeks within which to submit their reports.
