Sumaila makes Kotoko return
Champion Club, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, have re-engaged Black Stars defender, Rashid Sumaila, on a free loan deal from South African champions Mamelodi, Sundowns.
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Sumaila, who was a member of Ghana’s squad that participated in the Brazil 2014 World Cup, opted for a proposed overseas move during the summer transfer window which fell through at the last minute.
The 21-year-old former Dwarfs centre-back moved to South Africa from Kotoko after a season-long loan spell with Kotoko and won the 2012/13 Ghana Premier League with the club .
He was instrumental in Sundowns’ title triumph after a six-year drought, featuring in 17 games, but was not officially registered as part of the squad for the 2014/15 PSL campaign.
He has, therefore, been inactive since the beginning of the South African season a situation which encouraged Kotoko who are looking to augment their squad for the delayed Ghana Premier League and next year’s CAF Champions League - to request for his services from Sundowns.
Sources close to the management of Kotoko indicated that Sumaila would fully enjoy his salary from Sundowns, while the management of Kotoko catered for his transportation, accommodation and match allowances during his stint with the Kumasi-based club until July 1, 2015.
Already, the player is in Kumasi training with other players of Kotoko, most of whom were his former teammates.
Speaking to the Graphic Sports yesterday, the Chief Executive of Kotoko, Mr Opoku Nti, confirmed that the player was part of the club’s training session at Adako Jachie.
“We have finalised the loan deal with him and he is now training with the team,’ he revealed.
Other players whom Kotoko have secured for the season to defend their league title include two former players, Ahmed Toure and Frank Sarfo Gyamfi.
With the arrival of the new players, the management of Kotoko are confident of not only defending the league title successfully, but also make a meaningful impact in their African Champions League campaign, where they have faulted in the past three years.