As part of the build-up to the former Presidents 80th birthday celebration, board members of the JAK Foundation have duly launched the John Agyekum Kufuor Cup at a short ceremony held at the residence of the former president and would feature the two most glamorous clubs in Ghana, Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak.
The JA Kufuor Cup match which is being held to raise funds to build the John A. Kufuor Center of Leadership and Governance at the University of Ghana will see Asante Kotoko host their long-standing rivals Hearts of Oak at the Baba Yara Sports Stadiums in the presence of their former Chairman who doubles as the erstwhile president of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor on 28th October 2018.
According George Amoah, a member of the JAK Foundation, the organizers resorted to add the football cup match to help raise funds for the ‘80 for 80 million cedis’ project to complete the facility at the nation’s premier university.
Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe, a member of Hearts of Oak reminisced his relationship with J.A Kufuor and stated, “I can assure the president that Hearts of Oak is fully supporting this project and I will assure Kotoko that Kumasi is now our place and we will defiantly beat them.”
However in a sharp reply, the new General Manager of Asante Kotoko George Amaoko indicated that, “I assure you that this time around Kotoko is in high spirit. This particular match in honour of our great leader who happened to be the chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko can never be missed by our great club, we are going to face Hearts squarely at Kumasi Stadium starting from this very Sunday.”
The new GM also hailed JAK for appointing him as the Accra representative of Asante Kotoko during his tenure as the club chairman.
The Minister for Youth and Sports, Isaac Asimah said the Cup match is the ultimate solution for the reformation of Ghana football.
“Reforming Ghana’s football for me comes from this two clubs and today’s occasion is a platform for sending the signal out there that we have our own former President through his instrumentality, Ghana was able to go to the World Cup for the first time. So today when Ghana’s football is in crises he si the savior of Ghana’s football. Mr. President you are the role model for the reformation of Ghana football, Isaac Asiamah said.
Kwabena Aygapong also encouraged football administrator to resurrect teams that have failed to gain prominence as part of the reformation of Ghana football, he also called for a collaboration between the government and club administrators.
Despite his affiliation with the Porcupine Warriors, the former president said, “now that Hearts has agreed to play Kotoko in Kumasi of all places to honour me, I think it’s only fair for me to state here that for the sake of this match Kufuor will be like the father of this match.”
Among the dignitaries who attended the launch were, Coach Kwesi Appiah, Augustine Arhinful, Laryea Kingston, Joe Addo among others.
Copyright © 1994 - 2024 GhanaWeb. All rights reserved.
