AshantiGold SC head coach Bashir Hayford has downplayed the effect the player exodus that hit the miners last season would have on their performances this term.
AshantiGold lost a number of first team players half way through the season and during the off-season. Half way through last season, top striker Yakubu Mohammed left for Moroccan outfit Raja Casablanca while Bernard Morrison join AS Vita club in Congo. Ashgold also lost captain Lawrence Lartey to South African side Ajax Cape Town while mercurial midfielder Didier Kore joined Tunisian giants CS Sfaxien.
The Miners brought in 9 players to replace the departed bunch and Hayford has now revealed he doesn’t believe the departed players will have an impact on his team this season.
“Why should it affect my team? Lawrence Lartey didn’t play that many games with us last season. Didier Kore was mostly coming in as a sub and Henri Traore was not first choice and Yakubu (Mohammed) and (Bernard) Morrison left before the end of the season. So all those who helped us win the title are still here. Of course we will remember them but it won’t affect us that much,” Hayford told Kumasi-based Ultimate FM.
AshantiGold will play Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Wednesday for their Match day 2 outstanding encounter at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. Kick off for that game is at 3:30pm.
