Kickoff (Cape Town)
1 December 2008
Ernst Middendorp says he will not be in charge of AshantiGold for the crucial game against Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
The German arrived in Accra on Saturday fueling speculation he could be filling the void left by the departure from AshantiGold of their Serbian coach Momo Medic.
Middendorp has ruled the possibility of being in charge of the AshantiGold team team on Wednesday but a club statement suggested he will provide technical direction in subsequent games.
"I will not be technically responsible for handling Ashantigold when they play Kotoko on Wednesday. However I believe from the little observation and what I have learnt from Herbert and others, that the youthful team will put up a competent performance against Kotoko on Wednesday," he told the club's website.
The club claims the arrival of Middendorp on the same day that coach Momo Medic left Accra and the end of Ralf Zumdick's stay was coincidental with club president Herbert Mensah saying the arrival of the German has long been in the pipeline.
"Throughout the negotiations between Fortia and Anglogold Ashanti for the purchase of 100 per cent shares in Ashantigold we were in touch with Middendorp for advice, tapping his wealth of experience in the business of soccer.
"The Ashantigold project is not just about preparing a winsome first team but creating long-lasting structures that will ensure that we do not spend whopping sums annually recruiting new talent.
"Middendorp has been consistently advising us on how to restructure the dormant Ashantigold Academy as well as the technical direction of the club and he is here to see things first hand. We are glad he is here, particularly at a time when we have had to send our reliable head coach out for medical treatment."
Middendorp has previously coach Ghana two biggest clubs Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak.
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