Kotoko Circles Council present petition to Asantehene

Kumasi, Jan 23, GNA - The Kumasi Asante Kotoko Circles Council at the weekend presented a petition to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Life Patron and owner of the Club at the Manhyia Palace. Mr Kwame Owusu Donkor, Ashanti Regional First Vice-Chairman of the Circles Council led the delegation comprising some Council Members and supporters of the Club to Manhyia to present the petition.

Though contents of the four-page petition were not disclosed, a source told the GNA Sports that the petition contained concerns of the supporters over recent developments in the club which they considered when addressed will facilitate the development of the club.

The source said the petition highlighted observations and concerns of the supporters in relation to the Board, Management, Playing Body and the Technical Team, adding that, "We believe if proactive measures are taken by the Asantehene, it would enable Kotoko regain its lost glory as most supporters were becoming increasingly worried about the team's inability to conquer Africa".

The petition comes in the wake of the team's recent loss to their archrivals, Accra Hearts of Oak in Kumasi in the titanic maiden final of the CAF Confederation Cup match.

In a related development, Kotoko's sacked coach, Hans Dieter Schmidt had to quickly dash into his car and be whisked away when supporters of Kotoko who went to Manhyia to present the petition to the Asantehene across him at the palace.

The coach whose mission to Manhyia was not known, raised his hands apparently to greet the supporters as he was leaving the palace but some of the supporters who would have none of the friendly gesture of the coach, started hooting at him and had to be whisked quickly away in his car before the supporters, most of whom were apparently angry could cause any embarrassing situation.

Supporters of Kotoko have never forgiven Dieter Schmidt for making some substitutions in the two-leg Conference Cup final, which they claim caused the defeat of their idol club to Hearts of Oak in Accra and Kumasi recently.