The official mouthpiece of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, the Kotoko Express says player recruitment for the new season cost the management a whooping ¢3.5 billion.

The paper quotes the club’s Chairman, Sylvester Asare-Owusu as the source of the information when he addressed Kotoko supporters at a first-ever Supporters Forum organised by the Greater Accra Circles Council at the YWCA Hall in Accra.

Sylvester Asare-Owusu said management literally had to squeeze water out of stone to ensure that new players were recruited to beef up the team.

He said even after spending billions of cedis on recruitment, management still owed some of the players. A list of the seventeen players that joined the club this year includes Soulama Abdoulaye, Samuel Inkoom, George Asare, Richard Manu, Harrison Afful, Seydou Dagano, Isaac Anderson, Samuel Arthur and Obisessah Abiodun.

The rest are David Sarkodie, Jordan Opoku, Francis Coffie, Kwabena Yaro, Kwadwo Poku, Eric Opoku, Eric Bekoe and Baba Adamu Armando.

The Kotoko Chairman promised that in spite of the huge financial constraints facing the club his management team would live up to expectation.

He said they would leave a good legacy for all to see that they worked hard to lift the image of Asante Kotoko. "We have learnt very useful lessons from the past. Talking about the Adako Jachie Project for example, let me say that work will only start when we have assembled all we need to commence the project. And when everything is done, one of the legacies my management would want to leave will be a Kotoko Sporting Village," the Chairman said to a thunderous applause from the supporters.

He further disclosed that management had been in discussions with foreign and local firms to ascertain how best they could develop the club's infrastructural base. The Chairman hinted that when the project starts, one of the three pitches that would be constructed would later be redeveloped into a stadium. “An artificial turf will also be included because we have been told by experts that Astro turf increases the speed of the players”.

On the club's sponsorship from MTN, Sylvester Asare-Owusu disclosed that management recently requested an increase in the sponsorship money but the company turned down Kotoko’s demand. "We asked for one million dollars but they said they could offer US$ 600,000. Those who joined us to make the demands accepted that figure anyway but we rejected it. "We" are waiting for the expiry of our contract with MTN in April next year to define our future association with them,” the Chairman stated.

Sylvester Asare-Owusu maintained that with the amount of work done on the team during the pre-season, management was convinced that Kotoko would have a fantastic season. "I have spoken to the technical bench, players and everybody who matters in the club. The assurance is firm. The next league title will be ours".

He rubbished claims in certain quarters that Kotoko was best known for its splendid off-season performance. He said whoever thought Kotoko would under perform during the league would he put to shame. Concerning the level of discipline in the team, Sylvester Asare-Owusu said that though there could be some bad nuts, indiscipline had been reduced to the barest minimum.

He called for continuous support from the Circles in order to complete the good work that has been started. "Management still remains committed to its responsibilities. What we expect from the Circles for example is more and more support. “We expect you to encourage the team all the time," Sylvester Asare-Owusu demanded.



Source: Kotoko Express