Kotoko denounce ‘against’ coalition

The management of Kumasi Asante Kotoko has reacted strongly to the reported formation of an anti-Black Stars supporters group in Kumasi, known as “Friends of Zambia” by some followers of the club ostensibly to work against national team’s qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. According to the club’s management, Kotoko as an entity had completely nothing to do with the so-called group and condemned a member of their communications team who was championing the negative activities against the Black Stars.

A statement signed yesterday by the Communications Director of Kotoko, Dr Ernest Opoku, said the club was distancing itself from the so-called “Friends of Zambia” .

It stated Kotoko’s unalloyed support for the Black Stars and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) in their activities.

The formation of the group was announced earlier in the week by a member of Kotoko’s communication team, Francis Nana Owusu, alias Nana Godbless.

Speaking on various radio stations, Nana Godless disclosed he was leading the formation of the group to support the Chipolopolos of Zambia against the Black Stars when they meet in the World Cup qualifier in September at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

The announcement came in the wake of fierce reactions from the club’s management and supporters for perceived bias against the Porcupine Warriors by referees in the league, and to a ban imposed by the GFA’s Executive Committee on the club’s use of the Baba Yara stadium for their home matches as punishment for crowd violence in their recent league match against SC Medeama in Kumasi.

A number of people in Kumasi condemned attempts by the ‘against’ group to torpedo Ghana’s journey to the World Cup, especially against the backdrop that the Black Stars are scheduled to play the last group match against Zambia in Kumasi.

Both the national team coach, Kwasi Appiah, and his assistant, Maxwell Konadu, were former players of Asante Kotoko.

According to the statement, “Management would want to put it on record that, it is in full support for the Black Stars and the GFA to succeed in every competition they represent Ghana both in Africa and the world at large, and would, therefore, condemn any effort that would be inimical to the success of the Black Stars.”

The management of Kotoko also condemned the action of Nana Godbless and maintained that the club would never entertain those acts.

 “Management sees the proclamation as unfortunate and want to state that such a pronouncement is not the position of management,” the statement stressed.

Story: Kwame Asare Boadu/Graphic Sports