Qualification Is Our Ultimate

Mas-ud Didi Dramani says qualifying the Black Satellites to the next phase of the 2017 Africa Youth Championship (AYC) at the expense of Ethiopia is his priority.

The Ghana national U-20 team succumbed of 2-1 defeat in Addis Ababa a fortnight ago, and will require at least 1 goal without conceding to stand the chance of playing either Senegal or Tunisia in the final phase of the qualifiers.

Ahead of the second leg slated for Sunday at the Cape Coast Sports stadium, the former Asante Kotoko coach said:

“I commended the boys for a good job in the first leg. Even those of us on the bench were tired because of the altitude so they did well.

“Securing the qualification is our ultimate goal and I am very hopeful that we will qualify on Sunday,” he added.

Qualification Is Our Ultimate

Dramani Attributes Satellites Defeat To Poor Weather

Head coach of Ghana’s under 20 team- the Black Satellites, Mas’Ud Didi Dramani, has attributed his side’s 2-1 defeat against Ethiopia to climate and defensive lapses.

The match was the first leg of the African Youth Championship second round qualifier and the Black Satellites needed a good result ahead of the second leg in Accra.

However, two quick goals in the first 20 minutes handed the home side an early advantage but Jonathan Osabutey scored late in the second half to give the Black Satellites a straightforward duty of winning by at least a goal in the second leg.

And speaking to the press after the game, Ghana’s trainer, Didi Dramani said that bad choices of defensive judgment and the weather led to the result.

“I think it was a difficult match but the challenge was not tactical or technical. The problem we had was with the weather”, he said.

‘’ We tried to manage the situation and we tried to strategize to help us conserve energy (due to the high altitude). Unfortunately, we committed errors.

“We gave the ball away in our defensive third and that is something you pay for in football. We had to play against the wind and we struggled all game but it was not new to me.

“I came to play at the same venue with the Princesses and we experienced the wind too. In that match, we defended the end that was against the wind and on Sunday with the Satellites, we were at the same end. I told the players to be careful but we conceded”, Dramani added.

The Satellites are scheduled to arrive in Ghana on Monday to get ready for the second leg on June 12.

Dramani Attributes Satellites Defeat To Poor Weather

Didi Clears Air On Dauda Mohammed

Head coach of Ghana’s Under 20 team, the Black Satellites, Mas’Ud Didi Dramani has stated that, he did all he can to ensure that striker Dauda Mohammed joins up with his Asante Kotoko team mate ahead of their Week 12 encounter with Bechem United.

Dramani was accused by Kotoko management member, Edmund Ackah for failing to release Dauda for the game and hence sabotaging their league campaign.

But the Black Satellites trainer has debunked that assertion insisting that, he tried his best to corporate with Kotoko’s technical team in relation to Dauda Mohammed.

Speaking to Asempa FM in Accra on Wednesday, Didi Dramani revealed that he was in constant communication with Kotoko trainer Michael Osei on the arrangements made to fly the player to Kumasi on Tuesday.

The former Kotoko trainer further disclosed that Dauda was permitted to leave Black Satellites camp in Prampram but was left stranded at the Kotoka international airport by his employers despite the arrangements in place.

However, the player had to return to the Black Satellites camp after his attempts to reach Management of Kotoko proved futile.

The Black Sattelites will depart Accra on Thursday morning to Addis Ababa ahead of the first leg of the African Youth Championship this weekend.

Didi Clears Air On Dauda Mohammed

Kotoko Accuse Didi Dramani Of Sabotage

A member of Asante Kotoko’s management, Mr. Edmund Ackah has accused Black Satellites trainer, Mas’Ud Didi Dramani of sabotage due to the latter’s failure to release striker Dauda Mohammed for the Porcupine Warriors midweek encounter with Bechem United.

Dauda, 18, has been in great form for the Kumasi based side but will miss Wednesday’s week 12 tie as Ghana’s Under 20 continue their preparations towards the upcoming African Youth Championship qualifier against Ethiopia.

And speaking in the build up to their game against Bechem United, Mr, Ackah questioned the rationale behind Didi’s decision not to release the player.

According to Ackah, the Black Satellites trainer has ordered the player to switch off his phone and attempt to reach him has proved futile.

Ackah further disclosed that there have been arrangement in place for Dauda Mohammed to fly to Kumasi to meet up with the team but Didi did not adhere to the arrangement.

The Black Satellites are expected to leave Accra on Thursday morning to Addis Ababa ahead of their first leg qualifier against Ethiopia this weekend.

Kotoko Accuse Didi Dramani Of Sabotage

Oti Akenteng, Didi Dramani Head To Italy June

Technical Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Francis Oti Akenteng and Coach Didi Dramani will arrive in Italy in June to attend the Ghana Soccer Association Festival (GSAF).

Oti Akenteng and Didi Dramani, highly rated coaches in Ghana were invited by the organisers of the event to offer technical advice and look out for potential future talents.

Mark Ansu, President of the Ghana Sports Association Italy (GSA) disclosed this in an exclusive with Nkwa Radio Italy/Favans Sportsz.

“We (GSA) wrote to the GFA inviting them for the tournament and they have agreed to send three representatives including Oti Akenteng and Didi Dramani,” Mr Ansu said.

“We have also invited scouts of some of the biggest clubs here in Italy and across Europe and they have confirmed they will be here,” he added.

Players between the ages of 14-22 and of Ghanaian descent are qualified to participate in the soccer fiesta.

This year’s competition is scheduled to take place in the Italian city of Modena between June 28 – July 2.

Oti Akenteng, Didi Dramani Head To Italy June

How Duncan And Didi Dramani Fared After 4 Matches

It is the second successive season Kumasi Asante Kotoko has dominated headlines for poor start to the Ghana Premier league and reports of either side of the coin continue to emanate from all angles.

Didi Dramani was told Kotoko is not a ‘female team’ after a 2-2 draw against Sekondi Hasaacas on Match Week two in their title defence. Fans went frenzy amd demanded the former Black Princess coach is replaced.

David Duncan after suffering a 2-0 loss against Berekum Chelsea on Sunday, said the the stuttering start to life in this year’s season is not the club’s worst start ever. He claim the Porcupine Warriors under Didi Dramani last year were ‘worst’ than his.

Sportscrusader.com visit to it’s archives revealed that Kotoko under Didi Dramani recorded two wins in their first four matches, drew one and lost the other — seven points out of 12.

They scored five (5) goals and conceded three (3).

Aduana 1-0 Kotoko

Kotoko 2-2 Hasaacas

BA United 0- 2 Asante Kotoko

Kotoko 1-0 Inter Allies

Points amassed: 7

Goals scored: 5

Goals conceded: 3

David Duncan’s Kotoko is yet to pick up three points from a match in four games. They’ve lost two (2) and drawn two (2) – two points out of possible 12.

They’ve scored two (2) and conceded (6).

Wafa 2-0 Kotoko

Kotoko 0-0 Ashantigold

Kotoko 2-2 Medeama

Berekum Chelsea 2-0 Kotoko

Points amassed: 2

Goals scored: 2

Goals conceded: 6

How Duncan And Didi Dramani Fared After 4 Matches

Didi Dramani Rejects Aduana Stars

Ghana’s Under 20 Head coach, Mas’ud Didi Dramani has rejected the opportunity to coach Aduana Stars.

Speaking in an nterview with Kumasi based Metro FM, the former Asante Kotoko trainer confirmed that the Dormaa based side had approached him regarding their vacant coaching office but he had turned them down due to his schedules.

“They [Aduana Stars] approached me but I had to turn down the offer due my current busy schedule in charge of two national teams. I have lot on the table and thats why I rejected the offer” Didi revealed.

This development will come as a big blow to the 2009/10 Ghana premier league champions who parted ways with head coach Nurudeen Adamu and assistant Kwabena Ameyaw after just two matches into the new season.

Aduana are in search of a new coach to get them out of the early season slump after abysmally falling to back -to-back defeats against Inter Allies in Tema and Wa All Stars in Dormaa amidst reported in-fighting leading to Daniel Darkwa taking over the captaincy role from Godfred Saka.

Didi Dramani left Asante Kotoko after seven matches into  the 2015 Ghana premier league and has since not returned to club football.

He is currently in charge of the national U20 football teams for both men and women.

Reports say Aduana Stars could shift attention to few jobless coaches at present.

Jimmy Cobblah, Tonny Lokko, Mohammed Gargo, Mohammed Polo and the prospect of hiring an expatriate coach cannot be ignored.

Didi Dramani Rejects Aduana Stars