|
 Rebuild
Kotoko for me!
Otumfuo appeals to new Board of
Directors
Nearly three months ago, the Life
Patron and Owner of Kumasi Asante Kotoko F.C, the Asantehene,
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, appointed an 11-member Board of Directors
chaired by Dr. K. K. Sarpong to steer the affairs of the club.
Asantekotokofc.org brings to our
cherish readers Jerome Othchere’s transcription of Nana’s
speech to the Board of Directors at the Manhyia Palace on
Monday, May 24, 2010.
It is because of Asante Kotoko
that we have all gathered here. When we talk about Asante Kotoko
– it is me! It is not really about football but the name Asante
Kotoko which is me. In 1935, my permission was sought before the
club was named.
It is from that time that the club
has become the property of Asanteman. A lot has happened within
the last 10-11 years since I ascended this throne... Asante
Kotoko alone is almost becoming a blot on my throne.
By the grace of God and the Golden
Stool, everything we touch tends to be progressive. Kotoko alone
is proving to be a problem because there has been little
understanding among those I have given the management of the
club to.
When I give the club to them, I
stay off! I do not dictate to them as to how the club should be
managed. In the end, things go wrong.
They have not been able to manage
the club as we all expect; to ensure the club’s progress, growth
and development. There has often been power struggle. They argue
about who Manhyia has appointed and who Manhyia has not
appointed.
They do not give proper attention
to the players although they are the key people in the club. The
players’ welfare and performance is what will lift the image of
the club. They however think of themselves and fight over power.
Not how correct structures will be laid to ensure development of
the club.
There has been too much power
struggle over who is the chairman, governor…These are some of
the issues that have plagued the club since my ascension to this
throne. They never look at Kotoko as a big company or
institution even though the club has been registered under the
company’s code. This should have led to the implementation of
sound management practices.
Players who score goals against
Kotoko are those that are recruited. When these players come,
they do virtually nothing and their recruitment cost huge sums
of money!
Who leads the recruitment? Which
technical team assesses the players prior to their recruitment?
Where do they think of taking Kotoko in future such that they
know which gaps to seal and what to do?
Recruitment is done anyhow. When
players are recruited anyhow, the coach comes in to have
problems… I know that in football, we cannot always be
successful but if things are done well, we can get better
results... I recently handed over the team to an Interim
Management Team (IMT).
Here we are talking about the same
problems the club experienced over the years…
I charge you to put in place a
correct youth team to feed the main team. In the past, that is
what was done but today all that has been abandoned. Put in
place business plans with sound management practices else Kotoko
will collapse but Kotoko is too big to collapse...
Eschew selfish interests. Do not
allow your personal egos to dictate the pace. I sometimes ask
myself whether the Chelseas and Liverpools are run like we have
seen here…
Good training, identifying the
right materials for success…These are some of the things that
should be done. I charge you to take over from the Interim
Management Team.
I told them of the appointment of
the board; look through their report, what they have done, where
they reached, the debts; players that are with the team, the
technical bench – who are there? I have seen the same faces
since I ascended this throne.
Have they gone for any training to
be able to impart the right techniques? Have they had refresher
courses?
What about the coach? Is he good
or bad? The players – are they good enough to continue
performing? Are there those that ought to be sent out of the
club? The youth team – their development, welfare, insurance,
their shelter and all that… I charge you to ensure that the
right things are done! Now attendance at matches is poor.
Why? Why are people excited to
watch the Manchester Uniteds and the Chelseas on television but
the same people are not interested in matches on the local
scene? That is why I have called you, come and rebuild Kotoko
with your knowledge.
Look at what the IMT has done, is
it good or bad? If it is not good, thank them and let them go!
If it is good let them continue!
Have oversight responsibility over
who you will appoint and let not the management say Manhyia
appointed us…Ticketing, gate proceeds – there are too many
issues you have to take your time and sort out.
The personal interest has been
more than the welfare of the team. You are distinguished
personalities; you are knowledgeable, use your experience and
knowledge to get things done for me. Good stewardship, proper
audit of accounts; these are some of the things I want to see.
Get everything done for me as I hand over the club to you!
Meet with your team and do
everything right for me. Implement good measures for proper
administration. If the club will not win any trophy today or
tomorrow but will be well built for future success that will be
better than having the illusion of winning trophies when the
team is not good.
Have time for the club; you are
doing it for me. I have given it to you! I know you have a lot
of other jobs but I believe you can do it.
If anybody comes from Manhyia to
tell you anything I am supposed to have said, do not believe it!
I will not interfere in your work. If anybody comes to say
anything to you, it is not from me! If I want to tell you
anything, I will call you myself. Do not believe anything
purported to have come from me. All I want to see and hear is
that, the club is progressing.
If there is anything you want to
tell me, find time and come. If there is any guidance you need,
fine time and come; you even understand the work better than I
do.
Work with transparency and
understanding at the board and management level. The Circles –
be united and support the team; not with your self-egos. As a
support group – register your people and support the team well…
|
