Sports News of Saturday, 28 April 2012Source: – In a season which began with the hope of building his team to compete with some emerging forces, Maxwell Konadu has moulded a squad who are on the verge of an historic 22nd league title.

Perhaps it will be inevitable that Kotoko’s fine season would be defined without the influence of their former player.

Konadu, a former assistant coach at Wa All Stars, in his first term as head coach of Kotoko could be celebrating a league success on Sunday if the Porcupine Warriors beat Berekum Arsenal in the Glo Premier League.

A win in Kumasi will hand Kotoko the title with four games remaining, their first since the 2007/08 season and return them to the African Champions League after a three-year absence.

Konadu said: “To be honest with you I wasn’t expecting this.”

Kotoko have stretched the league by 14 points, brushing aside the threat of defending champions, Berekum Chelsea, their rivals, Hearts of Oak, Medeama and AshantiGold, whose second round push has since died down.

“When I took the job, I was not looking at making an impact in a short time. But here we are.

“I am very surprised and I believe the collective effort of everybody has helped us a lot,” Konadu said.

Kotoko are on the cusp of history and the impact appears far greater. They are not finished though, despite their form in the league having overshadowed another opportunity of a silverware, the FA Cup.

He could seal the double by clinching the FA Cup when the Round of 16 action resumes and repair the hurt of being losing finalist in the previous season.

However, Konadu could cap a busy year with an appointment as assistant Black Stars coach. And he has already sounded his desire to work with Ghana head coach, Kwesi Appiah.

“Why not? If they call me to come and do it I think I will take it up,” Maxwell Konadu said.

And that move appears to be unsettling nerves within his team with goalkeeper Isaac Amoako, the first to talk about Konadu’s influence on the Kotoko team the possible effects of his departure.

“He (Konadu) treats us like brothers and so we’re very happy what he’s doing for us but I believe that if he leave us, we will suffer next season,” says Amoako.

“He is a former player and so understands the philosophy of the team and that has played a crucial role in what we’re achieving so far in the league.

“If he’s appointed as the Black Stars assistant coach, it will affect us. We simply don’t want to lose him at this time. Not at all.”

Amoako and Kotoko’s ambition might not march Konadu’s, but for now, they will all have to savour the output of his impact on the team.

A league title success, an FA Cup to look up to and a possible appointment with the Black Stars has certainly defined Maxwell Konadu’s season.