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Kotoko Grab Mpong At Last

Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s long winding chase for Medeama Sporting Club’s prized midfielder, Richard Mpong, ended just in time before the closure of the first transfer window last Friday, fulfilling the player’s cherished dream of joining the Porcupine Warriors. Mpong, who was the main target of Kotoko even before the past season ended, was caught up in a fix while negotiations between Medeama and Kotoko dragged for weeks without a compromise.

However, a source close to Medeama told the Graphic Sports yesterday that an agreement was finally reached at the eleventh hour when they realised that the player was bent on joining Kotoko. “We have sold the player outright to Kotoko but we jointly own the player based on the agreement we reached,” the source stressed.

Richard Mpong (right) in action for Medeama last season



The 22-year-old Mpong has featured for the Black Starlets, Black Meteors and the Black Stars and was obviously being groomed by Medeama for the foreign market until the Porcupine Warriors had the better part of the bargain.
When Graphic Sports visited the Ghana Football Association (GFA) headquarters minutes before the 5 pm deadline, the main yard and the Premier League Board (PLB) office were a beehive of activity as club officials and players desperately sought to conclude some last-minute deals.

As expected, former Accra Hearts of Oak dependable defender, Akwasi Bobie-Ansah, also penned a two-year deal with CAF Champions League campaigners, Berekum Chelsea, at the eleventh hour after a fruitful negotiation with the club. Interestingly, negotiations between Berekum Chelsea and the versatile player who has featured for the various national teams began last week after he was handed his floating status by the GFA Player Status Committee.

Another notable signing by Chelsea on the day was Nania FC and Black Satellites goalkeeper, Michael Sai. Another drama surrounded the registration of former Hearts Skipper, Samuel Nzemaba, who was swiftly registered by Medeama immediately after receiving a letter at the FA to confirm his floating status. Before then this paper had learnt that Yahaya Mohammed who was at the centre of a transfer controversy between Kotoko and Hearts had finally landed in the camp of newly-promoted Amidaus Professionals.

An official of Amidaus Professionals revealed that Kotoko had agreed to release the solid midfielder to them for a one-year loan period.

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