Veteran Ghanaian coach J.E. Sarpong has opened up about the difficult circumstances that led to his abrupt resignation from Eleven Wonders, shedding light on troubling welfare issues behind the scenes at the club.
In a candid revelation, Sarpong disclosed that the players’ poor living and working conditions were the primary reasons he decided to step down. He described the situation as wholly “unacceptable” for a professional football team.
According to him, the players were neither paid regularly nor provided with proper meals—a situation he believes made it impossible for them to perform at a competitive standard.
“The players are not paid and fed well. How do you expect them to give their best when their basic needs are not even taken care of?” J.E. Sarpong stated.
Sarpong added that the welfare challenges went far beyond delayed salaries, revealing that some players struggled with nutrition and transportation due to the club’s financial difficulties.
Despite repeatedly alerting management to the issue, he said nothing changed, making it clear that no coach could achieve success under such demoralizing conditions. He emphasized that player motivation and performance are closely tied to how well clubs support their athletes.
The veteran coach—who previously managed Hearts of Oak, Liberty Professionals, and Ebusua Dwarfs—believes the situation at Eleven Wonders is symptomatic of the broader financial struggles facing many Ghanaian clubs.
His resignation has reignited debates within the football community, with fans and analysts calling for urgent reforms to improve player welfare and restore professionalism across the local game.
By Prince Tuffuor
