IMC spends 540 million cedis as bonuses -Chairman

Kumasi, July 18, GNA-The Interim Management Committee of Kumasi Asante Kotoko has since assuming office about six months ago spent about 540 million cedis as bonuses to the players. Mr Sylvester Asare Owusu, Chairman of the IMC who disclosed this said the welfare of the players has been their major concern and said so far they were on course. Speaking on Kapital Radio in Kumasi on Thursday, the IMC Chairman said recruitment of players will soon be over. We would then changed to long term plan of the club the major one being the construction of the club's own stadium.

The IMC Chairman expressed dissatisfaction with Kotoko's share of gate proceeds at the Kumasi sports stadium arising out of the many deductions from the gate proceeds which he said, was robbing the club of adequate revenue. He said for instance that Kotoko's match with Prestea Mine Stars fetched about 261 million cedis but that after the numerous deductions, Kotoko got about 140 million cedis as its share of the gate proceeds. Mr Asare Owusu said the club also loses 200 cedis on each ticket printed for its matches at the stadium.

In spite of these, he said, Kotoko still remained the richest club with the largest following in the country adding that the IMC was therefore determined to build the club's own stadium on a large plot of land graciously given out to it by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. On the performance of the "Kotoko Express" the official mouthpiece of the club, Mr Asare Owusu said so far a total of 650 million cedis had been saved after printing cost, administrative and overhead expenses since it hit the newsstand when the IMC took over.

He said the IMC intended to take the publication of the paper a step further by establishing the club's own printing press and that the club would soon enter into negotiations with its bankers on the matter. Nana Yaw Owusu, IMC Vice Chairman said with the Charles Taylor saga now over, the club will now be more focused and therefore urged the supporters to continue to stand solidly behind the club. He wondered how the Ghana Football Association (GFA) arrived at the fantastic figure of 650 million cedis compensation slapped on Charles Taylor and said it defied all reasonableness. Nana Owusu told the supporters that the club needed money now than ever before and that they should continue to support it.

Mr Asampong, father of Charles Taylor, who was also at the studios of Kapital Radio said, it had been his dream that his son would don the Kotoko colours at the launch of his football carrier, but regretted that this did not materialise until now and was therefore extremely happy that at long last his dream had come true. Charles Taylor who himself was at the studios of Kapital Radio, expressed joy that at long last the saga surrounding him has ended. He said at a point during the ordeal, he got very worried over the prolonged delay in resolving the issue and thanked the numerous Kotoko supporters who stood solidly behind him in those trying months.

Charles Taylor, however, had a word of caution for the supporters, reminding them that he was not better than any of the current Kotoko players and that he was not bringing any magic to the club but that together with his colleague players they would make Kotoko great. On the allegation by Hearts of Oak that they paid 50 million cedis into his accounts as part of the contract he signed with the club, the ace striker said to date he does not know the bank where the money was paid and into which account since he had not seen any money.