Asante Kotoko coach Charles Kwablan Akunnor has revealed the challenges he faced trying to carve a career out of football as a coach.

Akunnor, one of the young and finest coaches in Ghana disclosed that he was ridiculed and never given a chance to succeed in a profession he began after his playing career.

The 44 year old, former captain of the senior national team of Ghana started his career as a coach with former Premier League side Sekondi Eleven Wise, but had a tough time with the club and was subsequently left.

The determined ex-Frankfurt forward did not give up on his dreams. He enhanced his education in coaching and then later joined Dreams FC, where he slowly established his name in the domestic league.

"It’s been tough," he told Cafonline.com. "I wouldn’t want to go into all but what I can say is that when we started coaching in Ghana, nobody really believed that we will get this far," he added.

In Ghana coaches will go for a more simply dressing, where they have a sports track suits they wear. But Akunnor chose to change the dynamic, opting for an European style, wearing suit and tie in the hot weather of the West African nation.

"Our style of dressing was different and many laughed at us because we chose to wear suit and tie in the hot sun. It didn’t deter us, we kept moving and focusing on our job and today here we are," he said.

Akunnor has gradually grown into the job, which has seen him in just about four year move from one of the smallest and ambitious sides to the biggest Ghanaian club, Asante Kotoko.

"One thing I can say helped me personally is the fact that I believed in myself even when the odds were against me. Whatever it is that you set out to do, just trust and believe yourself that you can do it. The road may not be straight at all times, but with perseverance and focus you can achieve that."