The Timber Giants endured a challenging 2024/25 campaign, culminating in the departure of former coach Nurudeen Adamu, who notably led the team to their maiden Premier League title.

Under the guidance of Christopher Ennin, Samartex finished a modest seventh on the league table last season.

Ahead of the new season, Ackah is confident the team’s mindset has shifted towards championship ambitions.

“We are a championship club, and we are contestants,” he told Connect FM.

“We enter every competition to contest for it, and the leadership of the club always works hard to maintain that status,” he said.

Addressing concerns about relegation, Ackah was clear: “We don’t play the league with the mind of surviving; we play to contest for it,” Ackah added.

FC Samartex will open their season with an away fixture against Vision FC, signaling the start of what promises to be a fiercely competitive campaign.

Ackah, who has previously served at Asante Kotoko and Medeama SC, stressed that FC Samartex adheres strictly to a policy preventing any interference in player selection.

“I have never interfered in player selection at FC Samartex. The only thing I remember doing was to ask questions about player selection but I don’t interfere with player selection,” Ackah said on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show.

He credited the club’s success, including their recent Ghana Premier League title, to their policy of empowering the coaching staff.

“Our policy will not even allow me to do that. We have a coach and we allowed him to work and I believe that is why we have won the Premier League,” he added.

Despite their achievements, Ackah clarified that FC Samartex does not view themselves as competitors to traditional giants like Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak, acknowledging their esteemed histories in Ghanaian football.

“We are Ghana Premier League champions but we are not here to compete with Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak. These clubs have a rich history in our football and we are not here to compete with them.”

Under Edmund Ackah’s leadership, FC Samartex secured their first league title in the 2023/24 season and will make their debut in the CAF Champions League in the upcoming season.

Following their victory in the 2023/24 Ghana Premier League, Samartex will represent Ghana in the prestigious continental competition during the 2024/25 season.

In an interview on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Ackah disclosed that the club’s board is yet to convene and finalize the venue decision.

“For now, we are considering our games at the Accra Sports Stadium or the Baba Yara Stadium,” Edmund Ackah said.

“The Board is yet to meet but the final decision will be made and we will know the forward as to when we have to start preparations for our CAF Champions League campaign,” he added.

FC Samartex secured the league title with two games remaining, accumulating 61 points by the season’s conclusion.

Nurudeen Amadu is slated to guide the team through their inaugural journey in the CAF Champions League.

In an interview, Ackah mentioned that Narteh Ogum was set to join Samartex and had already begun the recruitment process before the start of the season.

However, their plans were disrupted when Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the owner of Asante Kotoko, requested Narteh Ogum to return to the club.

Ackah admitted that, this development was disheartening, but they had no choice but to move forward and find a new coach.

“Dr Prosper Narteh Ogum was to work with us. He did our recruitment and pre-season plan but a few days into his announcement, we got a call from His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II,” he told Nhyira FM,” Ackah told Nhyira FM.

“We were hurt but we did not have any option but to move on,” he added.

In the meantime, FC Samartex, now under the guidance of Nurudeen Amadu, has clinched the 2023/24 Ghana Premier League title with two games remaining, following a 1-0 victory over Bibiani Gold Stars.

FC Samartex will next face Karela United in Matchday 33 before concluding their season with a home game against Accra Lions.

The team currently leads the league table with 52 points from 29 games.

In an interview with Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM, Ackah claimed people are resorting to underhanded dealings to thwart Samartex’s chances of winning the league with only five matches remaining in the season.

“Some individuals believe they can manipulate the outcome of matches and use dark arts to prevent Samartex from winning the league. I consider these individuals lacking in intelligence. Let them know that I, Edmund Ackah, am in charge of Samartex, and I’m too smart and intelligent for those who think they can outsmart us and snatch the league title” he warned.

FC Samartex is set to play Bofoakwa Tano in their next match at the Nsenkyire Sports Complex on Friday, May 17.

They hope to extend their lead at the top of the table.

Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 GMT.

Speaking on the Ultimate Sports Show on Asempa FM, the FC Samartex 1996 General Manager revealed that he was accused wrongly by the Deputy Sports Minister.

According to him, he was left unhappy at the camp but he was calmed down by other officials. 

He further shared that his relationship with Hon. Bobie Opoku is now soared.

“At a point, I was not happy when the Deputy Sports Minister (Evans Bobie Opoku) accused me wrongly during the tournament and since then, our relationship is now soared.

“I was always putting in an effort to ensure there is calm at the camp. I was accused of giving out sensitive information to the media, specifically, Asempa FM.

“Anytime I am working and I don’t feel happy, I resign and that is what I did at Asante Kotoko but I will never leak information to the media. 

“I was left unhappy but some team officials came to me and asked me not to react,” he added.

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Meanwhile, the Black Galaxies who struggled to qualify from their group were crashed out of the tournament in the quarterfinals by Niger.

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The former Berekum Chelsea trainer was named as the head trainer of the side prior to the start of the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League season due to his impressive coaching prowess with Great Olympics.

However, the debutants have been uninspiring. The Timbers sit 8th on the pile with 42 points after 30 games played with four games left to end the season.

However, Mr Ackah, speaking on the Ultimate Sports Show, revealed Annor Walker’s engagement with the Black Galaxies has affected him.

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Samartex will be hosted by King Faisal in the matchday 31 games at the Dr Kwame Kyei Sports Complex on Sunday.

Mr Okraku’s term in office will end this year, October 2023 having emerged as the winner of the GFA election held in October 2019.

According to the FC Samartex General Manager, Mr Okraku, who is his friend, needs time to be able to develop the game looking at what he had done so far.

Speaking on the Ultimate Sports Show on Asempa FM, he added that the current leadership of the football governing body has performed well and explained why their mandate should be extended.

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The Samreboi-based club has qualified for the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League for the first time in its history.

Samartex finished as Zone Two winners with 66 points.

According to Ackah, Samartex are ready to compete in the Premier League and will not favour any side.

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“This is the Premier League and I am known to be an Asante Kotoko fan but I must say that we are not here to favour any team,” he said on Asempa FM on the Ultimate Sports Show.

“I have received messages from both Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko officials after our qualification but we are ready to compete and ensure we will maintain our Premier League status.

“The players and the management must be credited for this achievement because this is the first time we have qualified for Premier League football. 

“We can only promise the fans the best of football and nothing else,” he added.

Samartex finished as Division One League Zone Two winners.

The qualification to Ghana’s topflight is the first in Samartex’s history since its establishment in 1996.

Samartex finished the season with 66 points after 30 matches played in the Divisione One League.

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Speaking on the Ultimate Sports Show on Asempa FM, Mr Ackah promised that the team will recruit good players to strengthen the side ahead of the 2022/23 Premier League season.

“Looking at our performance in the Division One League, we must improve and compete fearlessly because this is the Premier League where you have the big teams.

“We are in talks to sign some players before the start because we want to compete fearlessly with the big teams,” he added.

Mr Ackah also added that the team will have their pre-season in the Western Region.