Former Ghana assistant coach Maxwell Konadu has explained why he initially declined, and subsequently accepted, an offer to join Black Leopards.

Konadu was unveiled on a three-year deal with the Motsepe Foundation Championship side and has been tasked with leading the club back to the DStv Premiership by the end of the season.

The 51-year-old joins Leopards after a successful season in Ghana, where he won the FA Cup and helped Nsoatreman FC qualify for their first-ever CAF Confederation Cup.

In an interview with FARPost, Konadu shared his reasons for the initial decline and subsequent acceptance. “The first time, the discussions didn’t go well, leading to a communication breakdown. I decided to join a smaller team in Ghana, and Mr. Thidiela also appointed a new coach. It’s football, and it happens,” he explained.

He continued, “It wasn’t a conflict, so when he [David Thidiela] approached me a second time, it worked out. I was very happy to receive his call again. We decided to give it a try and see if we could help the team achieve its goals.”

Konadu emphasized the importance of persistence in football management. “In this industry, it happens everywhere. When a team wants your services, they might come knocking more than once. The second time, you sit back and reconsider. That’s why I decided to join, especially since Mr. [David] Thidiela himself, along with Chief [Thidiela], approached me again.”

Having previously won the Ghana Premier League with Kotoko, Konadu is now set to bring his expertise and experience to Black Leopards in their quest for promotion.