It came as a surprise to many football fans as the news broke on several platforms indicating that Nii Odartey Lamptey has left Elmina Sharks as head coach on Wednesday afternoon.
The 46-year-old joined the club before the end of the first half of the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League season, replacing Yaw Acheampong, who is now deputizing Yaw Preko at Medeama SC.
Odartey was expected to be an instant at the club due to his insightful knowledge in the game of football.
The former Ghana international has been impressive so with the Elmina based side winning 3 games and losing just one to Liberty Professionals.
He was expected to lead the side until the end of the season but he has shockingly left the club, citing personal reasons.
Speaking ahead of the club’s weekend game against Inter Allies, Odartey said, “I just took over someone month and it’s now that I’m getting to know the boys," he said.
“But I’m happy maybe four matches I have been able to win three matches.
“Getting to know them day by day I’m sure and maybe by the end of the season I will get to know them or at the middle of the season.
“So as time goes on I’m changing you know reshuffling each player at a certain position.
“As I said, my main objective is to let them win and stay in the Premier League,” Odartey Lamptey said.
Footballgahana.com can confirm that Odartey is not happy at the club due to the club’s failure to honour its promises.
- Why did the club settle on Odartey as head coach?
After the management parted ways with Yaw Acheampong and Felix Aboagye, the management of the club, led by the bankroller of the club, Dr Papa Kwesi Ndoum needed someone who has in-depth knowledge about the game to help them maintain their Premier League status since they were then in the relegation zone.
Quickly, the management settled on the former Aston Villa ace. Odartey has an academy at Elmina known as Glow Lamp Academy. The management thought it wise that with Odartey operating his academy in Elmina and Sharks are also based in Elmina, it will be prudent for the club to convince Odartey to take over the club since he is already abreast with the culture of Elmina.
With the club going through difficult times, they also proposed that Odartey could help them get players from his academy to play for the club since they don’t have the financial power to rock shoulders with the big teams in terms of player purchasing.
When the management approached Odartey, the soft-spoken gaffer agreed to take over the club. Odartey gave them his words and pledged to do his best to survive relegation.
He recorded his biggest win when Sharks stunned Asante Kotoko by a lone goal at the Ndoum Sports Stadium to get his first win.
- Odartey’s demands
When he took over the club, Odartey made a proposal that he would like to come in with his backroom staff to help him at the club. However, in a meeting with the management team, led by Dr Paa Kwesi Ndoum, Odartey was promised that the backroom staff would be changed after the Asante Kotoko game but the management refused to stand by their words.
Two gentlemen, with their names withheld and are known to be loyalists to Dr Ndoum and are part of the backroom staff told Odartey the backroom staff will not be changed.
According to a source told Footballghana.com that Odartey was not happy with the decision of the management not to change the backroom staff.
In a meeting with Dr Ndoum, Odartey requested that the backroom staff must be changed but Dr Ndoum also refused to assure Odartey that the backroom staff will be changed since two of the management members are his loyalists.
Odartey was left amazed and troubled due to how he was treated by the club.
The source however added that the supporters of the club want the two gentlemen out from the backroom team but nothing seems to be done about it.
- Odartey feels betrayed and disrespected
After the management failed to stand by their words, Odartey feels disrespected and betrayed by the club since he has assured the supporters they will not be relegated and will sure they maintain their Premier League status, Odartey was expecting the board and the management will do so to offer him all the necessary request.
“Honestly, from afar, Odartey feels betrayed and hurts,” the source told this portal.
Despite using his academy players to help the team due to lack of financial power, Odartey was hoping that the club repay him with respect and help them achieve his course and help the side improve their standings on the league log.
Despite the club issuing a statement to deny that the former RSC Anderlecht, PSV Eindhoven and Coventry City midfielder has left the club, Footballghana.com can authoritatively confirm that Odartey has left the club after just two months in charge.
Odartey was able to steer Elmina Sharks to the 12th position with 26 points.
- What next?
Assistant coach, Sam Addo is now expected to lead the club when they play as guest to Inter Allies in the matchday 21 games at the Theatre of Dreams in Dawu.