We don't need new players now - Smith

Stop gap coach for Asante Kotoko, Johnson Smith, says the team will not need new players as the players currently available are good enough to help to deliver a good performance in the coming season and help them achieve their target of returning to Africa next season.

Havin assumed temporal responsibility of the team after Kotoko last month parted ways with Norwegian trainer, Kjetil Zacharriassen, Coach Smith has been tasked to prepare the team for the coming season which kicks off on December 28, and he is confident they will deliver.

Most fans have questioned the quality of the players Kotoko have as they failed to make it in their Africa campaign, but Coach Smith believes they have a good team to team their target.

"I have a good squad and I am content with them, they are about 34 in number. Though some of them may be transferred to other teams, and some are opting not to renew their contract, we should be able to work with what we have” he told the Graphic Sports in an interview via telephone.

“I’m not bent on recruiting new ones. I will train those I have and ensure they play to my philosophy," the coach who last October 12, made a third return to Kotoko as an assistant coach, stated emphatically.

He however, admitted that "I have a couple of good players on the injury list right now, like Abdul Ganiyu, Maxwell Baakoh, Richard Senanu. Hopefully they wil recover soon and join the team in good time to help us achieve our objective for the season.”

Johnson was an assistant to Coach Bashir Hayford, Maurice Cooreman, the late Herbert Addo and Paa Kwesi Fabin left the club in 2008.

Enjoying an acting role on his return, Coach Johnson insists his focus will be to get the team to put up a good performance during the season so as to secure a place for any of the continental club competitions.

“My main aim is to by all means return the team to play in one of the African club competitions. Kotoko is a big club and as such they have to compete in big competitions", he noted.

He has thus appealed to all fans of the Porcupine Warriors to rally their support behind his effort to build a formidable and winsome side that all Kotoko fans would be proud of.

"I am building a very strong team that can win against any team and as well play to the admiration of the fans."

“I know the supporters want to see good football so that is what I am doing. I only need time and support from Kotoko fans", he intimated. Read Full Story