A former director of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Kennedy ‘Cappuccino’ Agyepong, has underwritten part of the cost of the club’s pre-season preparations in Tamale ahead of the commencement of the 2013/14 Premier League.
He has also challenged stakeholders of the club to show real commitment in transforming the club into a viable entity instead of allowing it to remain a burden on Kotoko’s owner, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Mr Agyapong, Chairman and CEO of Kenpong Group of Companies, presented GH¢4,000 to Samuel Opoku Nti, head of Kotoko’s Interim Management Committee (IMC), to defray the camping cost.
“This is the time for true lovers of the club to mobilise resources for the recruitment of quality players for the general re-organisation of the club and not to lobby for appointments,” said Mr Agyapong, a Kwahu native who since 1998 had on numerous occasions donated various sums of mony towards the running of the club.
Onetime Vice-chairman of Kotoko during the Herbert Mensah administration and a member of the PV Obeng-led Board, Mr Agyapong noted that Kotoko could no longer afford the vicious cycle whereby the Asantehene always had to step in to bail out the club from financial crisis anytime management teams were exiting from office.
He bemoaned the practice whereby some high-ranking followers of Kotoko tried to stampede the Asantehene in order to either get themselves or their favourites appointed to top positions in the club.
“As the custodian of the Golden Stool, the Asantehene is above such machinations and people should desist from bringing the enviable name Otumfuo into ridicule and public disrepute.
“Otumfuo has never been found wanting in addressing issues within the club as and when they arose, so people should just allow the King to use his wisdom to resolve the prevailing challenges of the club,” Mr Agyepong said.
“What Kotoko need now is peace and proper planning to begin the next football season and all hands must be on deck to resolve all issues now.”
