Agent for Asante Kotoko head coach Kjetil Zachariassen, Mr. Charles Kouadio has refused to apologize to fans of the club who are left peeved by comments from his client, that the club’s current level belongs to the CAF Confederation Cup and not the Champions League.
Addressing the media after Kotoko 3-0 defeat to Etoile du Sahel in Monastir in the final qualifying round of the Champions League preliminary stage last Sunday, coach Zachariassen claimed that his side does not have what it takes to compete in the elite club competition on the continent currently, choosing the Confederations Cup as the “right level” for the club.
The comments have left several fans of the club furious as they believe the comment by the coach underrates the competency and class of the club.
Responding to the issue in an interview with Fox FM on Focal Sports on Tuesday, Charles Kouadio refused to apologize to the aggrieved fans of the club, instead, entreated them to put the results behind and focus on the Confederations Cup which the club has now been relegated to.
“Well I just want us to put all those things behind us and move ahead, we still have a chance in the CAF Confederations Cup so I think the focus should be on the CAF Confederations Cup”, Kouadio told Fox FM when asked whether he’ll like to apologize to the fans on behalf of his client for those comments which sounded distasteful to the Kotoko family.
Kouadio further stressed, that revisiting the comments by coach Zachariassen is not important at the moment because that will not produce anything meaningful. He was however quick to opt to apologize to the Kotoko fans specifically for the bad results against Etoile, assuring them of restoration of joy as the team begins another challenge in the Confederations Cup, starting from the play-offs.
“I don’t want to go to any quote that has been said already, there is nothing we can get out of it but just to plead to the fans because, before this match all the fans were behind the team, and I will say we’ve failed the fans so we need to put smile again in their faces, that is what is important right now”, Kouadio insisted.
Sympathizing with the fans for the Champions League exit, Charles Kouadio apologize for the bad results, admitted the team didn’t do well last Sunday against Etoile du Sahel and assured to put a smile back on the faces of the fans in the Confederations Cup.
“I want to apologize to all Kotoko supporters, all the fans, I will use their word and say “me pa kyew” (a local Ghanaian local language – Twi – which translates as ‘please’) everybody that they should put the defeat behind them and I can promise them that we’ll put smile again in their faces. They’ve been there, they supported the whole team but at last, on Sunday we didn’t do well but I want to apologize that they should please put it behind, it’s one of those things but this time around in the Confederation Cup I know Kotoko will make them proud”, he assured.
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