After so many months of uncertainty, the Lawyer Paul Gyamfi and Opoku led administration has brought their managerial reign to a close. It is not an effort that you would back and wholeheartedly commend. The Asante Kotoko they picked some years back is the same Kotoko they have left behind.
I am not interested in the trophies they led the team through, it was not what Asante Kotoko needed most. The structures they were to strengthen were not met. What the Fabulous fraternity expected of the past management was a Kotoko that everyone will feel proud of. A Kotoko which will go beyond the field and not Kotoko that is interested in picking wins against their arch-rivals. However they will be remembered as men who did their part for the great club.
Against these background comes yet another gentleman of the Ashanti soil. Who is Kwame Kyei? He is coming into the scene because of the name he has made for himself or just the man Kotoko need to revive its fortunes? What football proficiency does the renowned business man bring to bear?.
Had successive managers done enough to consolidate the growth of Asante Kotoko? I’m pretty sure these questions will be inconsequential. Yet again, you ask yourself, should someone have football knowledge before he is appointed to the steer affair of a club? Many will agree with the Life-Patron of Kotoko Otumfuo Osei Tutu II that, since he has been able to established himself in the business world, it is 100% sure he can lead Kotoko to the promise land.
Asante Kotoko has experienced system and structure failure for so many years. Past administrators were only concern in winning local league but looking at the larger picture becomes problematic, predicting and looking into the future lacks the willpower. Since there were no proper forecast, everything fall flat at the elementary stage.
I have no doubt in my mind that Kwame Kyei’s selection was purely based on his business foresight, which has direct bearing on how football has become. The moment you set eye on branding the club in terms of securing the structures, it directly transfer on the pitch and the dividends become conspicuous. This is what Kotoko deserves not the past.
Many teams in Africa and the world, bent on building clubs for the future mostly don’t care about the present, what to achieve today but devote time to develop the requisite structures and prepare for the future; that is the way and that is what is supposed to be.
A challenge which is not peculiar to Asante Kotoko in Ghana is player welfare. This by far one of the greatest administrative difficulty managers have failed since time immemorial. Players are not well protected hence fall for what peanut that comes from outside world. The obvious consequence is the club is bereft of quality players to compete.
This i am not sure is not the avenue to discuss the many problems that confront Kumasi Asante Kotoko, they are privy to everyone. Again it must not be said of the incoming administrator someday that the club spent millions of Ghana Cedis to purchase sub-standard players. The club’s youth system is crying for help andthat is where development starts.
Obviously Kwame will still be around people in his bid to ensure the betterment of Kotoko. Some people claim to have Kotoko at heart but it is the same who have derail the team’s effort.They deploy all avenues to come around the management even if they are not invited-that are the figures. The people he congregate with should be the people Kotoko need not those society has rejected them morally. Dr. Kyei must watch if he wants to immortalize himself on the lips of Kotoko faithful.
The media, a good friend during Opoku Nti’s administration but tend back to haunt him. Communication at all levels of administration is very crucial, hiring a competent personnel to steer is not only important to creating the future Kotoko needs but a good image Kumasi Asante Kotoko would take pride in.
Those who appear as cronies and pure hearted radio fans will surely make their way in to attract attention.
Kwame, a business tycoon has been in Kumasi long enough to know the trend. If he handles it well, obviously it will serve him well vice versa. The future is bright for Kotoko and it must start right with Dr. Kyei.
