Black Leopards’ new coach, Maxwell Konadu, aims to leverage his extensive experience to propel the team back into the Premiership.
The 51-year-old Ghanaian signed a three-year deal with Leopards two weeks ago, following a successful stint at Nsoatreman, where he led the team to their first Ghana FA Cup victory and a fourth-place finish in the Ghanaian Premiership.
Konadu’s appointment brings hope to Leopards, who have struggled to regain their top-flight status since their relegation in the 2019/20 season.
Konadu’s coaching resume includes significant continental and international experience. As the Black Stars’ deputy coach at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, he played a key role in Ghana’s qualification.
His track record highlights his capability to deliver results at both club and national levels, a factor that Leopards’ management hopes will translate into a successful promotion campaign.
“I know about Black Leopards from when they were still in the Premiership, and now that they are in division one, they need to fight back. I am well-experienced on the continent... I’ve been in the World Cups, Afcons, CHANs...I've been everywhere. I want to see if all this experience will help me push Black Leopards to the highest level,” Konadu said as quoted by SowetanLive.
Konadu said he was a tried and tested mentor. “In 2014, Kwesi Appiah was the head coach and I was his assistant. We qualified Black Stars to the World Cup in Brazil,” he said.
“After that, Appiah left and I was asked to coach the national team on an interim basis and I qualified the team for Afcon 2015. That's when Avram Grant came in and we went to the final of the Afcon and got beaten by Ivory Coast on penalties. I [also] won the Ghana Premiership with Asante Kotoko [in the 2011/12 season].”