By Dom Agbakpe

Legon Cities Football Club have hired Bashir Hayford to become the club’s new coach until the end of the season.

The veteran replaces Goran Barjaktarevic, who was relieved off his duties after his side 3-0 thumping of Great Olympics at the Accra Sports Stadium in Match Week 2 of the ongoing Ghana Premier League.

The Bosnian-German was named Legon Cities FC coach in December 2019. He took charge of 17 competitive games and during the period, he managed only three victories.
He signed 14 new players during the transfer window including Ghana marksman and topscorer, Asamoah Gyan.

The experienced gaffer has won the Ghana Premier League twice with Ashanti Gold and Asante Kotoko. In the past, he has handled other top division clubs; Power FC (defunct), Hearts of Lions Medeama SC and Ebusua Dwarfs.

Bashir Hayford led the Ghana female national soccer team, Black Queens at the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) on homesoil but left after the team’s failed to progress to the next round.

In March 2019, the trained teacher was appointed Somali national team coach but after 11 months at the helm of affairs, he left citing, security reasons.
A statement from the club reads:

“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Bashir Hayford as the Head Coach on a contract until the end of the 2020/21 season.”

“Coach Bashir Hayford is one of the most accomplished Coaches on the local scene having managed as many clubs including Power FC, Kpando Hearts of Lions, Asante Kotoko, Medeama, Ashgold and Ebusua Dwarfs. He has also managed the Black Starlets, the Black Queens and the National Team of Somalia winning as many trophies along the way.”

“Coach Bashir is renowned for tactical prowess and we are confident that his wealth of experience would take the team to the very high standards set by the Board and Management.”