Maxwell Konadu, the newly appointed head coach of Black Leopards, is on a mission to use his wealth of experience to help guide the team back to the Premiership. The 51-year-old Ghanaian recently signed a three-year deal with the club, after achieving success with Nsoatreman by leading them to their first Ghana FA Cup victory and a fourth-place finish in the Ghanaian Premiership.
Leopards have been struggling to make their way back to the top-flight since their relegation in the 2019/20 season, but Konadu’s arrival has reignited hope within the club. With a coaching resume that includes extensive continental and international experience, including serving as the deputy coach of the Black Stars during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Konadu is confident in his ability to deliver results.
“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 stated.
Having worked alongside former Black Stars head coach Kwesi Appiah, Konadu has proven himself as a successful 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 recalled. “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].”
With Konadu’s expertise and track record, Black Leopards are optimistic that his leadership will pave the way for a successful promotion campaign. The team is ready to embark on this new journey under the guidance of a seasoned coach who is determined to bring them back to the top where they belong.
