Prosper Ogum’s ill-fated second spell as Asante Kotoko coach ended on Monday evening, when the club announced his sacking.
While there were moments of promise, there was little consistency in how the team played and clarity in what kind of team he wanted to build.
He was ultimately sacked after a run of four consecutive matches without a win; the third of such a run since he returned in 2023. However bleak you think that is, those numbers do not tell the full story.
First season
When Ogum returned to the club, he did so under strange circumstances. There was no properly constituted management structure in place to help him. Thus, the club asked him to join its interim management committee which also had Emmanuel Dasoberi – the club’s former Administrative Manager, head coach of Sudan, Kwasi Appiah, and the Asantehene’s Nkontomponiaferehene, Nana Apinkrah Akwasi Awuah.
A focused Ogum takes charge of training season in pre-season ahead of the 2023/24 campaign
While the mini-sized management team was a departure from the erstwhile Nana Yaw Amponsah’s eight member committee, it had its opportunities. For instance, Ogum had absolute autonomy in transfer matters.
The numbers from what he did with that power, however, ultimately led to his sacking.
In his first transfer window, Prosper Ogum sacked 22 players from the squad. The club was forced to pay hefty compensations for the chunk who were still under contract.
That was not all. The positions vacated by the sacked players needed to be filled.
Before the ink could dry, Ogum asked Kotoko to open the check book again and in came 17 new additions.
Result? Kotoko finished the season with a mediocre 49 points and in 6th place on the league table. To contextualize how bad they were, Ogum and the entire playing body were summoned to Manhyia to go and explain their performances after the team went on a five game winless streak; Nations F.C 2-2 Asante Kotoko, Asante Kotoko 1-1 Bechem United, Nsoatreman 1-0 Asante Kotoko, Asante Kotoko 0-1 Dreams F.C, F.C Samartex 1996 1-0 Asante Kotoko.
Kotoko drew blank with Young Apostles
Kotoko suffered 13 losses that 2023/24 season, five more than the previous season when they finished in fourth place.
Thirteen league losses is the most suffered by any Kotoko coach in a single season in a thirty-four-match season. It is also the most losses recorded in any season by a Kotoko coach.
In the FA Cup, Kotoko sufferd a round of 16 exit following a 2-0 loss to lowly Karela United.
Second season
After the capital sackings and signings of last season, Kotoko doubled down on their expenditure.
Sixteen new players were brought in ahead of the current season.
Result? More of the same.
Kotoko started the season with shades of their old, inconsistent, completely disfigured self.
Three months into the campaign, Ogum’s men hit an all-time low when they went on a run of five consecutive matches in the league without a win.
From October 27, 2024 to November 11, 2024, Kotoko lost four of five league matches; 2-1 to Legon Cities, a 1-0 home loss to Heart of Lions, 1-0 away to Bechem United before another 2-0 home loss to Nations F.C. The only respite was a 0-0 draw at newly promoted side, Basake Holy Stars.
Kotoko recovered from their poor form and by March 25, 2025, Ogum’s men were on top of the league with 42 points after 23 matches.
They would stay on top for one more match day with a 1-0 win over Berekum Chelsea.
However, a run of four consecutive games without a win has since plunged Kotoko into a familiar abyss.
By the time Ogum was fired, his team had scored 28 goals and had let in 21.
Although Kotoko are still in the MTN FA Cup, there was little optimist of a win with Ogum in charge under the current circumstance.
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