Kumasi, Jan 12, GNA - The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on Monday inaugurated the 13-member Board of Directors of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club with a call on them expedite action to elect the Chief Executive of the club immediately.
He also tasked the board, headed by Mr Paul Victor Obeng whose term of office is three- years to plunge into work immediately by seeking for funds towards the club's participation in the Champions League as well as the recruitment of new players.
Inaugurating the Board at a ceremony in Kumasi, the Asantehene asked the board to prepare the list of players for the Champions League as soon as possible to ensure their early registration.
He regretted that a big club like Kotoko still did not have a permanent secretariat and asked the board to work towards getting a permanent secretariat as soon as possible, adding that "this venture is long overdue".
The Asantehene noted that the old players of the club who had made Kotoko what it is today deserved some assistance from the club and therefore asked the board to find ways of assisting them and suggested that such an assistance could come from the gate proceeds of the club. He cautioned the members of the board to discuss issues in the boardroom and always find an amicable way of resolving their differences instead of rushing to the radio and other media to air their grievances. Otumfuo Osei Tutu warned that he would not hesitate to dissolve the board at any time in their tenure of office if they did not perform as expected or if they are reported of any mismanagement and disunity.
He called for co-operation with the management, technical team, players and supporters to ensure peace, love and unity so as to bring about success to enable him get the peace of mind needed to concentrate on issues at the Manhyia Palace.
On football in general in the country, the Asantehene said it was regrettable that there were rumours of corruption in football and if what he was hearing about was true, then Ghana football has no future and will not get anywhere.
He said what he has heard was very ugly and shameful and therefore called for investigations into such allegations so as to save Ghana football from collapse.
Mr Obeng on behalf of his colleagues said they accepted the challenge and thanked the Asantehene for the confidence reposed in them and gave the assurance that they would live up to expectation but asked for the support of all.
Mr Sylvester Asare Owusu, former IMC Chairman, thanked the supporters for their co-operation and asked that the same co-operation should be extended to the new board to make Kotoko the champion club of Africa.
