Many Asante Kotoko fans believe the football administration led by Kurt E. S. Okraku hates the club and have, in variously ways, sought to undermine our progress. It’s a perception. Whether real or imagined, it was necessary to closely watch the Ghana Football Association (GFA)’s visit to Kumasi and consequent developments.
Some colleagues raised issues with the timing of the meet-the-press as it was starting at the time midweek league matches were kicking off. I didn’t see anything wrong with that. Media tentacles in Kumasi are long enough to cover events simultaneously without losing the big stories. So, at the Kumasi meet-the-press, of prime interest to me was Kurt’s response to the issue of whether or not he hates Kotoko.
“I feel very sad when people discuss this subject matter because people who are deeply involved in Kotoko on personal lines know what I have done for this club when I was not the FA President. When I became the FA President through your own support, [Kotoko] was the first club I visited. Kotoko is a powerhouse in Ghanaian football and any FA President who will want to forget this will never have a successful reign” said Kurt.
Kurt’s explanation that, Kotoko wield enormous authority in Ghana football, so much that, it’s downright foolishness to work against the club’s interest is true. In any case, why will a GFA President, in present day Ghana, commit resources to wining this august seat only to use the mandate against an entity that will even outlive his successors?
Well, I’m not naive. There are evil-minded leaders, who instead of using time and resources for the good of their people venture into useless, personal enterprises that eventually send them off course. I don’t see Kurt as thta. I also don’t believe he hates Kotoko. I won’t however dismiss easily, our fans’ perception.
Kurt may not hate Kotoko but the football system he presides over, manned by people he’s put in place can conduct their business, either consciously or unconsciously in way that positions the GFA Kurt leads as hating Kotoko. This, our honourable GFA President, must not ignore. Kotoko fans aren’t asking for preferential treatment.
They’re agitated over some posturing of the Kurt administration, which paints a picture opposite to Kurt’s answer at the meet-the-press. A specific example is the adjudication of disciplinary cases involving Kotoko. Thus, my take is, there are far too many things that need fixing in our football and Kurt must fully concentrate on that.
Yet, at the same time, let no one, either inadvertently or deliberately give any impression as being for or against one club. Even if it’s just perception of Kotoko fans, that perception must be dealt with.
Source: Jerome Otchere
