Kotoko calls on Hearts to prove allegation of bribery

Kumasi, Nov 11, GNA - The Interim Management Team (IMT) of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club has called on the concerned supporters of Real Tamale United (RTU) and the management of Accra Hearts of Oak to prove their allegations of bribery and match-fixing of the Kotoko-RTU match which ended abruptly at the Kaladan Park last Sunday. Addressing a press conference in Kumasi on Friday, Mr Javis Peprah, Public Affairs Director of Kotoko said the legal team of the Club was studying the press statement issued to the media by the Hearts management and RTU supporters concerning the alleged bribery and would soon take the necessary step to redeem its image.

The conference, which was attended by all the IMT members and some Board members was to react to the alleged bribery and match fixing in the aborted match by Hearts and the concerned RTU supporters. Mr Peprah said Kotoko would not sit down for its name to be tarnished and warned that if such unfortunate accusations continue, Kotoko would take all the necessary measures to redeem its image. He described the allegations as diversionary tactics by Hearts and said such statements are embellished with mischief could not influence "the decision of our numerous supporters to go gay and relish the achievements of the great Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club". Mr Kwame Boafo, Board Secretary of the Club said Kotoko had remained silent because it wanted to remain focussed and win its last match in the league.

He alleged that Hearts of Oak had always tried to sabotage the success of Kotoko in every competitive game in the country. Mr Boafo urged the media not to allow people to make sweeping allegations against others without substantiating them. Mr Kwabena Kesse, a member of the IMT said Kotoko was a great club and would not relent on issues that would tarnish the image of the club. Meanwhile, the Asante Kotoko Supporters Union has called for immediate investigations into the match played at the Kaladan Park last Sunday.

In a statement, the National Circles Council regretted Hearts' allegation of bribery and match fixing by Kotoko to win the match. It said the supporters were amazed and surprised that Hearts could play such "dirty politics just to cover their inability to win the GT Premier league instead of telling their supporters what actually went wrong".