I will have to return to the discussion on Kumasi Asante Kotoko FC in light of admission by the dismissed management that they failed miserably to work as a united group thus causing the downfall of the club. This is a serious indictment and I submit that the five man management team must be given some sort of punishment to serve as deterrent to future pretenders who take the management of the biggest football in Ghana as a joke.

It is accepted by all that Asante Kotoko is a special club that derives its authority from Manhyia Palace. The Asantehene is the chief life patron. Some prefer to call him the “spiritual leader” and history will tell you that the founders of the club had to seek permission from the reigning Asantehene in 1935 to name the club after the symbol of the Ashanti nation.

This explains why the word of the Asantehene in affairs of Asante Kotoko is final. All major decisions affecting the club are taken at Manhyia palace. It is a traditional club in the real sense of the word and tradition depicts that anybody who betrays the trust bestowed on him to serve Manhyia is at least ordered to slaughter a sheep. In some cases, one can be banished from entering the palace depending on the gravity of the offence.

All the dismissed management members; Sylvester Asare Owusu, George Amoako, Baah Nuako, Jerry Asare and Kwame Boafo are long serving officials of Kotoko and they are aware of the passionate support the club commands. The whole atmosphere in Kumasi could be morbid when Kotoko lose a match and businesses suffer when the team continues to slump. It is therefore surprising that they could not sacrifice their personal egos to promote the interest of the club but actually left the club worse than they met it. I submit that they should be charged for willingly leading the club to the path of destruction.

One may argue that this is not the first time a Kotoko management has failed to deliver. True. But the difference is that, those past managements tried but they could not succeed. In this case, you could sense some traits of sabotage on the part of some individuals who reportedly influenced certain players to play below their best to spite their colleagues. In local parlance it is known as paying “losing bonus”. This is an open secret and only an independent probe can establish its veracity. I suggest therefore that Manhyia should probe the outgoing administration so that the findings would guide future managements of Kotoko.

Asante Kotoko have a proud record in Ghana and abroad and they deserve better than these administrative frailties. I even dare to suggest that it was time the club was turned into a limited liability company with Manhyia as the majority shareholders. Kotoko have enough resources to set the pace as a true professional club and put a stop to the archaic fire fighting measures of solving the re- occurring administrative hiccups.

The new interim management of Osei Kofi, Opoku Afriyie, Sarfo Gyamfi all former international footballers of repute; ex-police officer Helena Cobbina, Supporters chief Ben Nti and business magnate Alhaji Njie have a tough task on their hands. The team is sinking fast having won only one point out of a possible 12 in the second round of the league. Kotoko have lost to Swedru All Blacks, Berekum Arsenal, Kpandu Hearts of Lions and a drab home draw with Kessben.

To say that the fabulous team in Africa is in crisis may be an understatement. It is more than that and I believe Alhaji Njie would have to do an “Abramovich” and pump some hard cash into the club to motivate the players to shine.

When the nation is brooding over the so called economic crunch, we need good entertainment on the football pitch to liven our sagging spirits. Kotoko cannot afford to continue to dampen the spirits of their millions of supporters. All hands must be on deck.

Cheers everybody and keep loving sports