Crisis? What crisis?

Those were the words of top Kotoko officials of the club in the early days of David Duncan reign as Kotoko gaffer.

The pomp and pageantry that heralded his entry into Kumasi was another spectacle altogether. Duncan was whisked to Algeria as “manager” of the club when an official announcement had not even been made.

Such was the belief.

And for a moment, all was well: an outstanding first leg performance against Eulma in the CAF Champions League had Kotoko fans singing his praises. For them, he was the Mourinho.

The special one. The only one.

Back to back wins against Bechem on matchday 11 and Liberty Professionals on matchday 12 only heightened his status in the Garden City. Operations Manager and club legend George Kennedy went as far as saying Duncan was “the best thing that ever happened to Kotoko.”

Let that sink in.

How times have changed since that March 29 win against Liberty.

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The stark reality

It’s been a meager eight points from a possible 21: two wins, two draws and three losses in their last seven games against Olympics (home and away), New Edubiase (home and away), Heart of Lions (home and away) and Liberty Professionals (home and way).

Liberty, of course, took the Porcupine Warriors to the cleaners at the Carl Reindorf Park last Sunday and it’s turned the tide against Duncan.

Kotoko (25 points) are now a massive 12 points behind leaders Ashgold (37) and with only 11 games to play this season, it would have to take a serious capitulation by the Miners and a concurrent superb streak of performances Kotoko to turn the script.

In 19 games all season, Kotoko have won a paltry six games, drawn seven and lost another six and lie in ninth.

24 goals all season translates into an average of just a goal per game whilst conceding 21 goals in that same period.

That is hardly championship form.

How the team has failed to perform can be found in her consistently inconsistent performances but can you blame the gaffer alone?

Former manager Didi Dramani had overseen back to back league titles and an FA Cup triumph together with decent performances on the continent. He was hailed by all except the current leadership of the club who were unimpressed with his African record and the poor start to the season.

Granted that was the case, it only made sense that the club would hire a manager with a continental curriculum vitae and not one who with an empty trophy cabinet.

The unprofessional attitude displayed by the club’s management concerning Didi’s sacking was nothing to write home about. It took weeks for both parties to agree on a compensation package coupled with the club’s poor PR strategy.

One gets the impression that management might just feel shortchanged with Duncan’s performances as a coach. Duncan’s supposedly impeccable CV was manager at Great Olympics, Hearts of Oak, Free State Stars in South Africa (not Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs or Mamelodi Sundowns) and the Ghana U-17 side that placed second to hosts Gambia in 2005.

Yes, that was his CV. No winner's medal anywhere.

Juxtapose that with the successful Didi, with back to back league titles, adjudged the best technical brain by his peers and one who contributed greatly in unearthing talents such as David Accam and Abdul Majeed Waris. We can’t forget Didi’s historic run with the U-17 Women’s side in Azerbaijan either; becoming the first African team to reach the semi-finals.

Kotoko’s management cannot absolve themselves from the drama unfolding at the Porcupine camp. Even worse, the Reds still have games against Medeama, WAFA, Chelsea, league leaders AshGold and arch rivals Hearts of Oak all coming up.

With confidence so down at the club, holding on tight to the league and FA Cup titles appear highly unlikely.

The Duncan question

In the last few days, there have been very strong comments questioning the structural ownership and the administrative competencies of those in charge. Also coming for stick have been the playing body. 

Duncan, however, seems to have a lot of support from the fanatics but truth be told, when the players recruited are simply not good enough or when a manager oversees a team in decline, most often it is the manager that gets axed.

There are several examples of players playing poorly under a manager only to up their game by several notches following the appointment of his replacement.

The administrative structure of Kotoko has always been very difficult to comprehend. There is a Chairman, Executive Chairman, President, Executive President, Chief Executive, Managing Director and I could go on listing them. There never seems to a clear operational course. Any ambitious club has a clear structure, leadership with clear duties and a strong Board to oversee policy and a term to fulfill its mandate.

Every now and then, Kotoko goes through a new crop of leaders after intense lobbying at Manhyia, the seat of the club's traditional power.

Go elsewhere and see how the world's top clubs are administered with a clear vision and a team of professionals. Former players of top clubs like Bayern Munich (Karl Heinz Rummeniege, Franz Beckenbauer and Uli Hoeness) are backed by an army of professionals responsible for the affairs of the clubs.

On the continent, Al Ahly, Zamalek, Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, Raja Casablanca are but a few who have incorporated former heroes in moving the club forward. These ex-footballers have taken the initiative to educate themselves (emphasis on educate) and returne to the beautiful game in various positions.

Can we say same about the Porcupine Warriors and how it has been run in the last 30 years?

Separation of powers

I've heard calls for a clear separation of powers between Manhyia and club administrators. I do not know if that is ever going to happen.

What I do know is that the King is a revered gentleman who is very much on top of issues and who may have been let down by lobbyists in appointing the “right” people to steer the club forward.

When the club seems to be doing well, everyone goes to sleep and forgets the core challenges facing the club. These challenges only seem to rear their ugly heads when the team is on a decline.

Until such a time where a mandate driven leadership is allowed to fully implement goals over a period, the club would go nowhere and that is my opinion. People have laboured to bring the club this far and it’s sad to see how viable programs are scrapped.

My heart bleeds for this club.

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Kwame Dwomoh-Agyemang is a Joy Sports producer.  Follow on Twitter: @DwomohKwame