Bashir Hayford
Bashir Hayford

Former Ashanti Gold SC head trainer, Bashir Hayford, has explained why he left his role as the head coach of the Somalia national team.

The veteran Ghanaian trainer was named Somalia’s senior football team coach in March 2019.

He led the country to beat Zimbabwe in the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup Qualifier in November 2019- the country’s first competitive victory in 35 years.

Speaking to Nhyira FM, the former Black Queens coach said contrary to media reports that he stepped down from his position as Ocean Stars head coach, he disclosed that his contract rather elapsed.

“It is never true I have quit Somalia’s job but my contract has rather expired. The contract between me and them came to an end in December 2019. There was an option to extend it for another year but I considered the political situation over there. 

“I have not written any letter to them but they know because of the political situation there I will not return.”

The experienced trainer left for Somalia with a rich curriculum vitae, having won two Ghana Premier League titles with Asante Kotoko in 2007/2008 and Ashantigold SC in 2014/2015 season.

Coach Hayford says his service is available to take charge of a team in the 2019/20 Ghana Premier League.