Kotoko hit jackpot

Kumasi Asante Kotoko have signed a five-year contract with two companies, Primeval Media and Mobile Content, which will boost the club’s financial base significantly through the contribution of supporters.

As part of the deal, a short code, 1402, has been created on MTN and Vodafone, two leading telecommunication networks in the country, whereby Kotoko fans would contribute financially to the club on a daily basis through texting on their mobile phones.

Kotoko fans that are using MTN would only need to text the word ‘Fabu’ to 1402, whilst supporters that are hooked to Vodafone will type the word ‘Start’ give space and write ‘Fabu’,’ and then text it to 1402. Subscribers are supposed to text twice in a day for a fee of 40 pesewas.

A press conference was held at the Kotoko Secretariat in Kumasi where the project, which had been piloted with huge success over the past six months, was officially unveiled. Kotoko players such as Stephen Oduro graced the event.

Jeffrey Asare, Communications Director of Primeval Media, an events organising firm, said Kotoko could generate a staggering GHc 200,000 every month if at least one million Kotoko supporters subscribed, adding that subscribers would also be fed with fresh Kotoko news on their mobile phones.

Larry Opare Otoo, CEO of Primeval Media, described Kotoko as one of the greatest brands in the world of football, noting that the club would take home 60 percent of the monies generated whilst the remaining 40 percent would be directed to Primeval Media and Mobile Content.

Johnny Abdellah of Mobile Content disclosed that MTN and Vodafone are being used to start the programme for now, indicating that very soon other telecommunication networks in the country would be roped in to give it wide coverage and patronage.

Opoku Nti, Kotoko’s General Manager, on behalf of the club, accepted the venture, urging Kotoko fans to patronize it since it could boost the club’s financial base.