Kotoko Cautions Media.

PRESS RELEASE:

24th November, 2011.

It has come to the knowledge of the management of Kumasi Asante Kotoko SC, media reports that seek to mar the hard won enviable corporate image of our club as the most professional football team in this country in recent times.

A couple of media houses have raised issues regarding the behavior of some football fans at the Accra Sports Stadium when Kotoko played age-long rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak in the last Premier league match on Sunday 20th November, 2011.

These media reports have identified fans who threw all forms of objects on the pitch as Kotoko fans, therefore calling on the GFA to sanction Kotoko in respect of those incidences.

It is regrettable how sections of the media have decided to paint Kotoko fans as hooligans. SuperSports.com reporter, Gary Al-Smith in an article dated 24th, November, 2011 under the headline, “Security issues haunt Super Clash” reports that, “Referee Awal Mohammed had a good game, but for periods of the game his decisions caused Kotoko fans at the Conference Center End, Independence End and InterContinental Ban End of the stadium to react. Fans were shown throwing varied objects onto the field and had to be pleaded with by both sets of players and police to stop. No arrests were made”

Ghanasoccernet.com reporter, Patrick Akoto also writing under the heading, “Kotoko face FA rap over fans misconduct” states that, “The Ghana Football Association could sanction Asante Kotoko for failing to control their fans in Sunday’s ‘Super clash’ against rivals Hearts of Oak”. He continues that, “A section of their fans threw stones onto the field in protest for what they perceived as bias officiating against centre man Awal Mohammed even tough television replay showed he was spot on”

This ghanasoccernet.com report has also sadly been reproduced by the esteemed National Daily, “The Ghanaian Times” edition of Thursday, November 24, 2011.

It is amazing how ghanasweb.com writer in an article puts it. Headlined, “May 9: Kotoko fans were at it again” Writer, Raymond Yeboah of Sportsinghana.com indicates thus, “Hearts supporters had within their reach all the powers as hosts to react to the missiles Kotoko fans were throwing but Hearts fans were tolerant on that occasion. I don’t know why up to now, a decade later, Kotoko fans have still not learnt their lessons from the May 9 2001 incident” He adds that, “I entreat GFA Disciplinary committee to punish Kotoko to serve as a deterrent to other clubs. We don't want such hooligan attitude again in our league. The security of more than 500 policemen and 15 military men couldn't even make any arrest when the fans were throwing the missiles, sad indeed” He sadly concludes that, “Kotoko ought to be punished. They should buy quality strikers and stop blaming referees”.

Some radio stations have also gone along those lines in their discussions.

These reports are unfounded and only seek to perpetuate one agenda or the other against the focus and concentration of Management, players and supporters of the our great team. More so when the team is setting the pace for professionalism in this country.

These reports are more worrying when the GFA and its associated bodies have not reported those acts as coming from fans of our great club.

We are delighted to state that we have enjoyed a very healthy and cordial relationship with media and hope that this synergy is not marred by a few agenda-setting journalists and their media houses.

Let the ethics of the fourth estate of the realm be the guide as you chat the cause of this noble journalism profession, since Kotoko will not entertain reports meant to tarnish our club's image in this era of professionalism coming to our game.

Thanks

Yours in the sports arena,

Listowell Yesu Bukarson

Public and Supporters Relations Manager,

Kumasi Asante Kotoko SC