Veteran Ghanaian journalist Osei Owusu Bempah has raised concerns about the current state of Asante Kotoko SC, insisting that the club no longer boasts Category A players capable of starting for any of Ghana’s national teams.
Kotoko, historically regarded as one of Ghana’s most successful clubs, have in recent years found it difficult to make a significant impact in African competitions.
Speaking in an interview with Luv FM, the staunch Kotoko supporter expressed disappointment over what he described as the dwindling fortunes of the Porcupine Warriors.
According to him, the once-dominant Ghanaian giants are struggling to attract and develop top-quality players who can compete at the highest level, particularly on the continental stage.
“Kotoko doesn’t have Category A players who can start in any of Ghana’s national teams,” he stated.
“In 1982, the Black Stars won the last African Cup of Nations in the semifinal game against Algeria. I think eight Kotoko players played in that game, including substitutes.
“Today, I don’t remember the last time a Kotoko player started a game, even for the Black Stars. We’re struggling to even get players in the local Black Stars, not to mention the national team and some of the other juvenile teams. It’s quite sad,” he added.
Owusu Bempah stressed that the situation reflects a deeper problem within the club’s recruitment and development structure.
“I think they must start with the ownership, investment is very key, and proper structuring of the management and organisational structure of Kotoko is also very key. Without that, you cannot get the results.
“Teams like ASEC, Zamalek, and Al Ahly and those teams are doing what they are doing because they have proper management; they don’t recruit coaches anyhow. They don’t recruit players anyhow,” he noted.
Bempah believes the club’s inability to recruit elite talent is a major cause of its decline.
“Currently, Kotoko, to me, doesn’t even have category A players in the team, players who are good enough to start for any of the national teams,” he said.
