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Kotoko pull out from President's Cup

Didi Dramani, Kotoko coachKumasi Asante Kotoko have pulled out of this year’s President Cup  because of suspected machinations by referees to deny them the Glo Premier League trophy.

Confirming their withdrawal from the July 1 match, the Public Relations Manager of Kotoko, Dr Ernest Opoku, told the Daily Graphic the club’s management was in the process of writing to the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) to state their position and there was no turning back.

GHALCA had announced that this year, four teams -- two from Ghana and two from outside the country -- would compete for the President Cup on Ghana’s Republic Day.

According to Dr Opoku, Kotoko initially agreed to take part in the competition after GHALCA, the organising body, contacted them and the two bodies were due to meet this week for further talks on the club’s participation.

“But from the way Kotoko are being treated in the ongoing premier league, we believe it will be in our interest to withdraw from the competition,” Dr Opoku said.

He stated that in the Kotoko-Medeama league clash in Kumasi, the centre referee, Selas Okine, showed gross bias against Kotoko, which contributed to the Porcupine Warriors’ inability to win the match.

What was even more painful, he alleged, was that Kotoko were banned for crowd violence after the game, but the GFA did not see anything wrong with the performance of the referee.

Again in their last Sunday’s match against Aduana in Sunyani, Dr Opoku claimed referee Glah worked to frustrate Kotoko, adding that it appeared there was a calculated plan to ensure that the club never won the league.

As a result of those perceived injustices stated, the Kotoko spokesperson said the team would not want to be part of the President Cup as the GFA only wanted to use Kotoko to make money and treat them badly in competitive matches.

Story: kwame Asare Boadu

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