The world of Ghana football was served brunch on Friday March 31 with a classic resignation letter to have been written; just maybe, in the history of the game in the country.
The content was synonymous to the persona of the writer, and the choice of veiled expressions dominated the media landscape instead of the vacuum created.
If you’re still amiss about who and what I am talking about, I am referring to Bashir Hayford, who decided four years at the helm of Ashanti Gold as Head Coach are enough for him to drop his working tools.
The former Asante Kotoko and Medeama SC boss during his tenure never lost the opportunity to serve one or two intriguing subplots.
Bashir Hayford, the Premier League’s favourite son of controversy, is as well known for his press conferences as well as his zigzag success on the touchline.
With all the press conferences and interviews he’s ever taken part in, and even in his resignation letter, difficult to narrow down his memorable quotes to just 15, however, we’ve managed to cut it down.
- ASHGOLD HAVE “INSULTERS” MORE THAN SUPPORTERS
The bad blood between Coach Bash and the faithfuls of Aboakese never disappointed in the last two seasons and the former, with his rich history of working across the length and breadth of the country termed them “insulters” and not “supporters.”
- REFEREES CAN RENDER A COACH WIFELESS
In July 2015, AshGold were pipped 1-0 by Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara sports stadium on match week 24 of the 2014/15 season. Bashir Hayford was unhappy with the performance match day official, Cecil Fletcher.
Unleashing his bitterness in an Interview with Kumasi-based radio station, Ultimate FM after their title chances was damaged, and with calls for his sack dominant, Bash dropped the heaviest of lines you’ll ever hear.
- EXPOSE JOURNALISTS
According to Bashir Hayford, most journalists in Kumasi failed their second cycle institution exams and are forced to parade themselves as media men.
He promised to release certificates of journalists who insult him.
Sadly, he never fulfilled the promise despite the Miners winning the title.
- BEAT JOURNALISTS
In the school of Bashir Hayford, sports journalists in Kumasi engage in insulting analysis instead of sports analysis and beating one is the only solution to ending the lack of journalists’ reverence for age.
- FORMULA FOR SECOND ROUND FAILURE
2007/08 and 2014/15 Ghana Premier League seasons were exceptions. Bash perpetual failure, especially in the second round of the season with Medeama SC, and, AshGold in his first two years opened the doors for a clatter of calls for his sack.
Livid by the incessant calls, Bash said:
- SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS OF FAILURE
There was a common voice: “AshGold will bottle the title even with three games to end the season,” but Bash only saw the claims are ’empirical analysis.’
- ON WHETHER ASHGOLD CAN STILL WIN THE 2014/15 TITLE
The inconsistency in AshGold’s journey to lifting the title got people continuously questioning their mettle to win it, but Bash never doubted their chances.
“We (all the clubs in the league) started with no points. Some people talk like we started with 10 points bonus. We have led the rest of the clubs from no points till now. We are still leading with three games to go, one home game and two away games. The permutation tells you that we are about 80% close to winning the title.”
- I WISH I WAS A TOGOLESE
Bashir Hayford was ambivalent about the crown ‘Best Coach of the Year’ in 2015. Excited he’s the man among the lot, but disappointed there’s no added incentive for winning the best Coach of the year and he wished he was a Togolese.
- INTELLECT OF JOURNALISTS
In his monumental war with Ghanaian journalists, Hayford has realized the efficacy of onslaughts on his opponents’ collective intellect. After Asante Kotoko bundled him out of the MTN FA Cup, he jabbed.
“If you had gone to Achimota [School, one of Ghana’s most prestigious second-cycle institutions], where would you have been?”
- ON REPORTS THAT HE’S DATING HIS PLAYER’S EX-GIRLFRIEND
There were reports of mutiny in the camp of AshGold last season after a 1-0 loss to Dreams FC. The reason for the mutiny was due to Bash’s alleged intimate relationship with ex-girlfriend of one of his player.
According to him, the reports were calculated attempts to mar his image, and he had a warning for the perpetrators.
- HAPPY TO SHAME CRITICS
Bashir Hayford knew his moment to hit back at weeks of intense scrutiny had arrived when he won the league title for AshGold for the first time in 19 years and he did not miss the chance to land his comeback punch.
- LACK OF GUTS TO MAN UP TO MISTAKES ON HIS ALLEGED INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH EX-GIRLFRIEND
The dust settled and the truth about sordid story was made public by the players, but journalists lacked the “guts” to render an unqualified apology. Hungry to clear his name, he said the court was the house for justice.
- ASSESSMENT OF TEMA YOUTH VS ASHGOLD
AshGold drew against Tema Youth FC in match week three of the 2016/17 campaign, but was unhappy with officiating. He termed the game drama.
- SIMPLEST JOB HE WON’T GET
Bashir Hayford wanted the Black Stars job after Avram Grant left in February, but he knew applying for the post will be synonymous to throwing coins into the sea.
- GONE BUT NOT MISSING
By Muftawu Nabila Abdulai (Twitter: Muftawu_Nabila) on starrsportsgh.com
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