The quest and desire by management of
Asante Kotoko FC, led by charismatic Executive Chairman, Dr. K.K
Sarpong to well-positioned in the league of internationally
recognized and investor attractive clubs know no bounds as they
have shifted their activities to a top gear.
As you read this, a three member delegation
led by Dr. K.K Sarpong is in the United Kingdom pursuing the
agenda of Kotoko for the better. The other members of the
delegation are FA & International Relations Manager, Kwame
Baah-Nuakoh, and Team Psychologist, Patrick Ofori, who joined
the delegation from his Aberystwyth base in Wales, U.K.
As per their schedule for today, Friday 1st
April, the delegation would be making a presentation at a
meeting with officials of premier division side, Sunderland FC.
Besides discussion on the proposed summer
tour of Ghana during which they are billed to play Kotoko at the
Baba Yara Stadium, the team would also make a presentation of a
powerfully put together paper that would seek to move the
Kotoko-Sunderland relationships to a higher level of mutual
interests.
Speaking to Kotoko Express from London, the
FA & International Affairs Manager, Kwame Baah-Nuakoh, disclosed
that since their arrival on Sunday, the delegation has been
moving around from one meeting to another selling the Kotoko
brand to prospective partners, sponsors and investors.
However, he says that Kotoko is attaching
so much importance to every discussion they have been having.
“In all the meetings that have been held so
far, we do not have much difficulty making Kotoko known, but our
greatest challenge has been that we do not have much to show as
a club”.
“It is for this reason that we are taking
full advantage of this business trip for the betterment of the
club”.
“We really need to break new grounds with
this trip because that is one of the best opportunities we have
to bring Kotoko into positive light and review in the comity of
high pedigree clubs,” he said.
The delegation took a break on Tuesday
evening to go to watch the Black Stars settle for a draw against
the Three Lions of England at the Wembley Stadium.
“I must say that the result of the match
has had a positive impact on the various meetings we had on
Wednesday,” he chipped in.
Their activity so far has been holding
meetings with other football interest groups who are reviewing
proposals presented to them by the delegation for partnerships
and investment.
On the side, the contingent was split into
two on Wednesday to enable them be able to meet the clash of
their commitments for the day.
“Dr. Sarpong on one hand had a meeting to
finalize arrangements with our new kit sponsors, errea, whilst
Patrick and I represented the club in an international seminar
organized by Loughborough University on Science and football”.
“We were taken through various aspects of
scientific team preparation and we had many greats and
internationally acclaimed football personalities and doctors as
resource persons”.
“I can share with all that our team
psychologists has learnt many new things that he shall be
impacting on our players as he continues his interactions with
them. I have also learnt a lot and had my eyes opened to many
things”.
“We also had the chance to interact with
representatives of many of the English premiership sides who
also attended the seminar, and we received good reactions and
responses from most of them”.
However, he did not say anything on the
inroads made by the Executive Chairman for administrative and
executive reasons.
“In all, whatever we have been achieved
here and would be achieving before we return to Ghana would
first have to be reported and briefed to the Board of directors
after which we can go public with the gains we made”.
“Kotoko supporters should be rest assured
that whatever we are doing is in their own interest and they
would have something positive to smile and talk about when all
the lose ends of our trips have been tightened,” Kwame concluded
