By: Jerome Otchere

Date: 30-05-11

Assistant coach, Prince Acheampong, has earned the plaudits of Administrative and acting Public Affairs Manager, Benjamin Nti, for the wonderful role he has been playing on the club’s technical bench.

Ben Nti disclosed on a Kumasi radio station that ‘Tactical Sabuto’ as Prince Acheampong is affectionately called by his fans ought to be commended.

According to the management member, everybody on the Kotoko technical bench has been working hard to ensure that the club excels and one person who has been working diligently is the assistant trainer.

“Coach Sabuto must be commended for his effort. He goes through a lot but he has been moving on and doing his work well. I think we have to commend him for that,” Benjamin Nti told Kessben FM’s mid-morning sports programme on Saturday.

The management member gave a brief background to the circumstances that led to the appointment of the open-minded assistant coach and explained that when it emerged that Technical Director, Malik Jabir could not act as assistant to Serbian trainer, Bogdan Korak, because of his level experience, Coach Sabuto who holds a CAF License B Coaching Certificate and other relevant experience from distinguished educational institutions came into the picture.

Ben Nti was clear in his call for Kotoko supporters to rally behind the team arguing that the Dr. K. K. Sarpong leadership would remain committed to working strenuously to lift the image of the club not alone in Ghana but also around the world.

Kotoko Express records indicate that Coach Sabuto has been part of the Kotoko bench for 22 competitive matches – 17 of them coming in the second half of this season. His appointment came in the middle of November last year, midway of the first round of the 2010 /2011 Glo Premier League. A period when Kotoko suffered successive and humiliating defeats.

Coach Sabuto first sat on the bench when Kotoko drew goalless away to relegation bound B. A. Stars and has no doubt been a reliable assistant. He has as well handled the team in three matches during the absence of Coach Bogdan Korak.

 In the 3 matches – the outstanding Glo Premier League match against Berekum Arsenal which ended goalless. A non-competitive match away to Tarkwa United which Kotoko won 3:1 and a recent friendly at Bekwai against New Edubiase United, which Kotoko lost by a lone goal.

When Coach Sabuto was later on contacted for comments on the praise by Ben Nti, he was grateful saying, “Being part of the Kotoko technical team for 22 competitive matches, winning 12, drawing 6 and losing 4, I can only thank God and all the people who have been supportive. Do not forget this: my famous win came on my birthday against Hearts of Oak in March. There could not have any other big birthday gift than that win” said the Tactical Sabuto.