Petrocub faced Zimbru in the final held at the Zimbru Stadium.

Zimbru took an early lead with Emmanuel Chinemerem Aleribe scoring in the 6th minute, finishing the first half at 1-0.

In the second half, Teodor Lungu equalized for Petrocub in the 58th minute. Ion Jardan then put Petrocub ahead in the 76th minute.

Mihai Lupan sealed the victory three minutes later, making the final score 3-1, and securing the prestigious trophy for Petrocub.

This triumph marks a successful season for FC Petrocub, as they have also clinched the Moldovan top-flight league title, completing a remarkable double.

FC Petrocub is owned by former Asante Kotoko Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nana Yaw Amponsah.

Under Nana Yaw Amponsah’s leadership, FC Petrocub brought in three Ghanaian players: Razak Abalorah, David Abagna, and Seidu Bassit.

Award-winning sports broadcaster, Patrick Osei Agyemang, aka, Countryman Songo, Akosua Dentaa Amoateng, and David Obeng-Nyarko all joined the celebration of the Cup.

This appointment comes as a result of a strategic partnership between the Moldovan club and an undisclosed company, presenting not only financial advantages but also bringing in the accomplished football administrator to lead the team.

As per the terms of the collaboration, Nana Yaw Amponsah has been officially designated as the new President of FC Petrocub, heralding a potential era of positive transformation for the club and marking a significant milestone in its history.

The announcement of Nana Yaw Amponsah’s appointment as President was made by FC Petrocub through its official social media channels.

The club shared, “FC Petrocub has entered into a partnership agreement with an international investment company. Pursuant to this agreement, Nana Yaw Amponsah assumes the role of president of the team.”

Nana Yaw Amponsah’s tenure with Asante Kotoko concluded last year, culminating in his departure from the club he joined in 2020.

During his time with the Porcupine Warriors, he secured one Ghana Premier League title for the team.

The enterprising football administrator was handed a three-year mandate as the CEO of the club in August 2020.

However, Otumfuo has dissolved both the management and the board of directors following the expiration of their mandate.

He won the Premier League title in his three years stay at the club.

Asked about what he makes of Amponsah’s tenure as CEO, Sarfo Duku called for a proper introspection to be done by the Club’s life patron.

“Before we can make a definite conclusion, we would have to analyze the terms of reference vis a vis what he was able to achieve,” he told Citi Sports.

“Generally, if you look at the performance of the team, I don’t think they fared badly at all.”

“With the divisions between the management team and the Board, which led to the dissolution of the Board, I would say he did not perform up to people’s expectations.”

“Before he [Nana Yaw Amponsah] came, the expectations of the fans were so high. But I think he has done his part. Others are saying that he would have performed better if he were to be given another chance, but the issues were such that Otumfuo thought otherwise.

“So I won’t say he is a failure, I would say he did not perform to people’s expectations,” he added.

In addition, the club secured sponsorships that will give the team the needed push with the objective of restoring the club to its past glory once results are produced on the field of play.

Meanwhile, a four-member Interim Management Committee has been named to steer the run. 

They include Nana Apinkra Akwasi Awua who is the Kontomponiaferehene and a chartered accountant, former Black Stars coach, James Kwesi Appiah, Dr Prosper Narteh Ogum, who has been named the new head coach, and Emmanuel Newton Dasoberi, who will serve as the administrative manager.

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The young football administrator was named as the CEO of the club in August 2021.

The tenure of Mr Amponsah ends this year and it is unknown if his stay at the club as the CEO will be extended.

However, Chibsah believes the Board must assess the work done by the 2019 Ghana Football Association presidential aspirant if he will be sacked or maintained.

According to him, the assessment will determine if the club has seen an improvement under Nana Yaw Amponsah.

“I can’t determine whether Nana Yaw Amponsah should stay or leave as the CEO of the club but I think he must be assessed first by the Board of Directors and that it will determine if he has improved the club or not,” he told Mavis Amanor on ‘Agokansie Nkommo’ on Adom TV.

“You cannot ask him to stay or leave without the assessment and so for me, I think he must be assessed before his mandate will be extended. Continuity is also important,” he added.

Meanwhile, Asante Kotoko have been poor in the ongoing season and currently sit 4th on the pile with 48 points with two games to end the season.

The defending champions will be hosted by Accra Lions before wrapping up their campaign with a home game against Dreams FC.

‘Agokansie Nkommo’ airs on Adom TV every Sunday at 12:00 PM.

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The Porcupine Warriors, who are the defending champions, have been poor in the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League campaign and seem they will end the season trophyless.

The poor results led to the sacking of Seydou Zerbo who replaced Prosper Narteh Ogum on a two-year deal.

Kotoko are trailing by eight points to Aduana Stars, who lead the log with 52 points with four matches to end the season.

“I will thank Kotoko fans for the support thus far, without them we wouldn’t have been where we are. We are sorry for the disappointment this season,” Nana Yaw Amponsah told Oyerepa FM.

“Regardless of everything, we need their support because a friend in need is a friend indeed. We will plead with them to have patience with us and the players. It is painful,” he added.

They are currently in sixth place with 44 points after 30 games and have failed to win any of their last three matches in the competition.

Kotoko will be hosted by relegated Kotoku Royals in the matchday 31 games at the Theatre of Dreams at Dawu on Sunday.

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The defending champions have failed to glitter this season in the ongoing 2022/23 Ghana topflight.

The Porcupine Warriors sit 6th on the league log with 44 points after 30 games.

However, Nana Yaw Amponsah, who was given a three-year mandate to make the club economically independent, says the club is struggling because there is no fairness in the ongoing league.

According to him, the Reds should be leading the pile in his estimation.

“If there’s fairness in Ghana football, Asante Kotoko wouldn’t be at the current position on the BetPawa Ghana Premier League table,” he told Kumasi-based Kessben.

Meanwhile, Asante Kotoko after being held by Bibiani Gold Stars at the Baba Yara Stadium in the matchday 30 games will hope to return to winning ways when they travel to play Kotoku Royals in the matchday 31 games at the Theatre of Dreams on Sunday.

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The Porcupine Warriors are struggling in the 2022/23 season despite sitting 3rd with 28 points.

According to Nana Yaw Amponsah, injuries have been the reason for their inconsistent performance in the domestic top-flight this season, adding that the Burkinabe coach sometimes struggles to raise a 20-man squad for a game.

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“Many times we do not consider other factors before criticizing. We have failed to consistently produce the same team hence playing a lot of players mid-shift leaving the coach to always improvise,” Mr Amponsah told Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM.

“Anytime we have a good result with the hope of keeping the consistency, we record injuries or suspensions.

“Sometimes I pity the coaches, we need to improve as a team but I pity the coaches because sometimes getting a 20-man squad is a problem.”

The Porcupine Warriors are without a win in their last two games and are currently seven points behind league leaders Aduana Stars on the Ghana Premier League table.

Asante Kotoko host Bechem United on match day 19 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in their next game.

The Porcupine Warriors suffered a 1-0 defeat at the CAM Park in the matchday 15 games.

Referee Emmanuel Tampuri awarded Karela United a penalty after Kotoko’s Mohammed Sheriff ran into a clumsy challenge just behind the ball. Atta Kumi stepped up and made no mistake.

The defeat ended Kotoko’s three games unbeaten away record against the Nzema side.

Nana Yaw Amponsah’s rage was in reaction to a controversial penalty call that led to Kotoko’s 1-0 defeat to Karela United.

He posted an image of the incident that appeared to be wrong and captioned it: “The deliberate attempts to provoke me are very well noted.”

In another tweet, Nana Yaw Aponsah posted an image of a wrong penalty call that cost Kotoko to drop points against Bibiani Gold Stars at Dun’s park on week 13.

He captioned the image with an Akan proverb that translates to ‘if you persistently chase a coward, you will bring out the real man in him’.

“The deliberate attempts to provoke Asante Kotoko is also very well noted. S3 wo pamo ohufuo a wok)to ni b33ma #Kum Apem a Apem B3ba.”

The Porcupine Warriors have dropped to fifth position on the table with 24 points, while Karela United have climbed to fourteenth with 19 points after 15 games in the Ghana Premier League.

However, the legal challenges appear to have firmly and decisively been dealt with and games resumed a fortnight ago.

This week, match day 7 games are expected across nine league centres with the attention, again, on leaders and defending champions, Asante Kotoko. The Porcupine Warriors host Legon Cities, a side coached by Maxwell Konadu, who leads his side back home to face his former employers.

Konadu, whose vast experience leading teams incorporate inspiring Asante Kotoko’s league title success in the 2011/2012 season, did the double over his former side last season.

Kotoko’s failure to beat Legon Cities in a seemingly struggling season last term is something the Porcupine Warriors want to correct this season.

This season’s game between the two sides has an added twist that embellishes the contest. A head-to-head managerial contest between Legon Cities’ project lead, Roy Arthur and Kotoko CEO, Nana Yaw Amponsah.

The two club leaders have had decent runs as administrators involved in football for years with admirable progress reports to share.

Ahead of the big game at the Baba Yara stadium in Kumasi on Wednesday afternoon, November 16, 2022, we profile the football journeys of the two leaders of the Asante Kotoko and Legon Cities Football projects.

Roy Arthur
Arthur had been a shrewd football scout, intermediary and head of sporting projects with different clubs and academies in Ghana and Europe for almost two decades and as the sporting director of Accra-based Legon Cities football club. He joined Legon Cities prior to the start of the 2022/2023 Ghana Premier League season with a clear sporting project of identifying, nurturing, developing and finding international opportunities for Ghana’s next generation of football stars.

Arthur is widely experienced in football sporting projects across scouting, recruitment, transfers and club administration.

Having lived and worked widely with clubs in Italy following a brief professional career that ended prematurely due to injury in 2001, Roy began working on Ghanaian football sporting projects in 2006 with Atlas Sports management, led by his brother, Oliver Arthur, who currently runs Arthurlegacy Sports as CEO. He later did mainstream club football administration as the International Relations Officer for Bechem United FC. It was the period of several international tournament participation by the Bono-based club, mainly in juvenile and youth competitions in Italy including the famed Romeo and Juliet cup in 2008, Trofeo Rocco in 2009 and the Atlas Classic tournament in 2014.

He was CEO of BA Stars in 2012, BA United in 2013-2014 and guided them to the top flight in 2015. He played a very instrumental role in the club’s development, restructuring and transition from the lower-tier side to a model club.

Arthur went on to become CEO of Berekum Arsenal in the 2015-2016 season and was Manager of the Accra United Sporting Club in 2021.

Roy Arthur was also a management member of the Black Maidens in 2012, Black Queens from 2015 to 2018 and the Black princesses from 2013 to 2014, playing various strategic roles. During his tenure as a management member, the Black Queens placed third in the AFCON 2016 and were crowned champions at the African Games.

In the area of player transfers, Roy is credited with scouting and facilitating the transfers of several young talents from Ghana to Europe. Notable amongst these players are Daniel Afriyie Acquah and Richmond Boakye Yiadom

Who have had long international careers with the Ghana national teams at various youth and senior levels and a decade each of club football in Italy with some of the finest teams including Juventus, Parma, Palermo, Atalanta, Sampdoria and Genoa.

The others are Joseph Baffour Gyawu, Issifu Lamptey, Fiifi Coleman and many more.

He is currently credited with leading Legon Cities’ reinvigoration in a new Ghana premier league season that promises a podium finish.

Nana Yaw Amponsah
The current CEO of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Nana Yaw Amponsah is a football administrator with vast experience and is tipped to lead the Ghana football association in future.

Prior to taking up the Chief Executive role at Asante Kotoko, Nana Yaw Amponsah famously led Division One league side, Phar Rangers FC.

Nana Yaw Amponsah holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon, and a Master’s Degree in Sports Law and Practice from Leicester DE Monfort University, UK.

As a licensed FIFA intermediary, Nana Yaw Amponsah is credited with the transfers of more than 50 players from clubs in Ghana to different parts of the world.

Like Roy Arthur, Nana Yaw Amponsah had dealings with several clubs in different capacities but mainly in the area of player transfers locally and internationally. In 2019, Nana Yaw Amponsah contested the Ghana Football Association presidential elections, which settled on Kurt Okraku.

These two Iconic leaders of their respective clubs have shown competence and progress in their rise to the top echelons of club football and have been tipped to lead Ghana football in future.

This game, though not a top-of-the-table clash, considering the contrasting performances of the two clubs so far this season in the Ghana Premier League, pits two young football administration prospects, predicted to dominate the game for several years.

According to him, after working with the Ghanaian football administrator he realized that he is more of an agent than a club CEO.

His comments come after the transfer of Franck Mbella Etouga to Egyptian club Al Masry over the weekend after just a season with the Ghana Premier League giants.

Speaking to Kumasi-based Akoma FM in an interview, Amadou Fontem Tingana said no Cameroonian player will join Asante Kotoko unless Nana Yaw Amponsah is no longer at the club.

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“Let (Asante Kotoko) know that it is not all about money, relationship counts but unfortunately they have destroyed that beautiful relationship with AS Fortuna. Kotoko still owes them $10, 000.

“Based on this issue, no Cameronian player will join Asante Kotoko unless this current crop of management of Kotoko is out of office.

“Players and Club Presidents in Cameroon know that the CEO of Kotoko [Nana Yaw Amponsah] is acting more as an agent than a club CEO,” Amadou Fontem Tingana said.

Since Asante Kotoko lost to RC Kadiogo over the weekend, fans have blasted Nana Yaw Amponsah for the transfer of lethal striker Franck Mbella Etouga.

The young and enterprising football administrator is famously remembered for contesting the 2019 Ghana Football Association presidential elections.

Speaking on the Dentaa Show, the player agent said he spent more than three months after a snake bite at the hospital and when he recovered, he could no longer play football.

He further revealed that he had always wanted to be involved in football, so when he wasn’t able to play anymore, he decided to veer into another aspect of the game.

“I went to a neighbour’s house to fetch water and I was with the neighbour’s son. While we were fetching the water a frog passed by and the boy was running away. So I was like why are you running by the time I realised a big black cobra had tied my leg, bite me, and left,” Mr Amponsah said.

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“I fell and started crying, people came out to check on me and they immediately took me to the Tema General Hospital and I had to be given anti-snake treatment but they had run out of stock.

“My dad and uncle went out to get one, the one they got had expired but they had to inject me like that and at some point, I understand I was pronounced dead but I survived. I had survived a scorpion bite before that.

“I spent three months and three weeks at the hospital and at a point my leg was rotten and they were going to amputate my leg but the senior doctor came and opted for what we call skin grafting and they did that to fix my leg.

“I went home to continue with life but that stopped me from playing football because it had damaged my foot. This and after surviving a scorpion bite made me believe that until God takes my life, no one can take it.”

Mr Amponsah was appointed as Asante Kotoko CEO in August 2020 and has made a great impact at the club.

On Tuesday, the club unveiled their 2022/23 home and away kits for the campaign.

The kits come with the image of the life patron of the club.

The decision by the management of the club has been questioned by a section of the fans with veteran football administrator, Alhaji Grusah, describing the decision as ‘uncivilized’.

However, Mr Amponsah has been invited by the Manhyia Gyaase Fekuo [Group of Elite Chiefs] to query the 2019 Ghana Football Association presidential candidate about the usage of Otumfuo’s image on the new club jerseys according to Nhyira FM Sports.

The jerseys come in red and green.

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Meanwhile, Asante Kotoko will have their pre-season in Turkey and will face Nigerian champions, Rivers United in the European country as part of their pre-season.

The Porcupine Warriors will also represent the country in the 2022/23 CAF Champions League having annexed the Premier League last season.

The club is also without a coach following the resignation of Prosper Narteh Ogum, who joined the side a on two-year deal from WAFA before the start of last season.

His comment comes after the head coach of the side, Prosper Narteh Ogum communicated his decision to leave the club due to how he has been treated by the management during a meeting with the technical committee of the board.

Prosper Ogum is reported to have fallen out with the Kotoko management and his decision to quit was confirmed by the club’s administrator, Emmanuel Dasoberi.

However, the Board, in a statement, denied that the coach wants to leave the club.

Since assuming office as the CEO of Kotoko, Nana Yaw Amponsah, who is a former Ghana Football Association Presidential candidate, has worked with as many as four coaches in less than two years.

He parted ways with Maxwell Konadu, Johnson Smith, and Mariano Barreto with Prosper Narteh likely to exit the club ahead of the new season.

In an interview with Asempa FM, the former Kotoko management member called on Mr Amponsah to come out openly and explain the recent happenings between management and the coach.

“Nana Yaw Amponsah should come out and explain what’s going on between management and Coach Prosper Narteh Ogum?” he said on the Ultimate Sports Show.

“This isn’t a board matter. Why does he [Nana Yaw Amponsah] always sack coaches? Is he not accommodative?” he added.

Meanwhile, a member of the 12-member board of directors, Kofi Amoah-Abban, on Sunday exposed the cracks in the Asante Kotoko board by openly calling for the dismissal of the league-winning coach and called for support for the club’s CEO.

Having joined the club on a two-year deal from West African Football Academy [WAFA] before the start of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season, Prosper Ogum has communicated his intention to leave the club to the board in a zoom meeting due to his rocky relationship with the management team led by Nana Yaw Amponsah.

Last week, administrative manager, Emmanuel Dasoberi, in an interview, confirmed the coach’s decision to leave the club after less than 10 months in charge.

The confirmation by Mr Dasoberi was denied by the 12-member board of directors in a statement released on Friday afternoon.

On Monday, a meeting was held at the Sports Hotel in Kumasi with the expectation that Nana Yaw Amponsah will be in attendance but he failed to honour the invitation of the board.

Some board members tried to reach the CEO via phone but could not establish contact with him.

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Head coach of the side, Prosper Narteh Ogum, was however, in attendance and still maintained that he wants to leave the club due to how he has been treated by the management.

Board Member, Yaw Adu, speaking in an interview reiterated that the head coach explained his reasons why he wants out but was quick to add that they are ready to let the former WAFA gaffer leave the club.

“We invited Nana Yaw Amponsah to the board meeting today but he did not show up,” he told Kumasi-based Kessben FM. “The coach said he is resigning because of what the management has been doing to him over the last few months, that’s what Ogum told us today in the meeting.

“We are yet to hear from the management, we are waiting to hear from them (management) if what the coach said is true. The issues are resolvable and the coach can stay,” he added.

Meanwhile, Asante Kotoko will represent the club in the 2022/23 CAF Champions League.

The Porcupine Warriors will represent the country in the 2022/23 Champions League having won the Ghana Premier League title this season.

Over the years, Ghanaian clubs have struggled to make an impact in Africa.

But Mr Amponsah, speaking ahead of their participation in the Champions League, is confident his side will lift the Ghana flag high.

“We have seen the performance in Africa over the years and I think it is about time we improve our performance,” he said on Adom TV on Fire-for-Fire.

“We have argued that we will need the support of government and corporate bodies to make an impact in Africa because playing in Africa is all about money.

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“Huge sums are given to Black Stars ahead of major tournaments and for Ghanaian clubs to perform such monies must be given to the clubs.

“We have had discussions and we are confident in putting up a good performance next season in Africa. We will improve the squad and bring in people to assist the management and the technical team.

“We will do our best in Africa,” he said. “When we played in Africa, we did not lose a game at home, and playing at the Accra Sports Stadium also affected us because our supporters could not show up in their numbers due to the distance but this time around, we will ensure the right thing is done and will definitely make the country proud,” he added.

The Porcupine Warriors have been crowned the champions of the just-ended season for the first time in seven years.

Kotoko finished the season with 68 points under Prosper Narteh Ogum.

Speaking on the performance of his side, Nana Yaw Amponsah lauded his side for the performance.

According to him, he will rate the performance of his side 70 percent.

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“I must congratulate the playing body and the technical team for their hard work throughout the season,” the 2019 Ghana Football Association presidential aspirant said on Fire-for-Fire on Adom TV.

“I will rate our performance of the season 70 percent because even though we are champions there were some games we should not have lost but in all, it was a good season for us,” he added.

Asante Kotoko will represent the country in the 2022/23 CAF Champions League.

The former Black Stars assistant coach was shown the exit during the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League after matchday four defeat to Great Olympics.

Konadu was subsequently replaced by Johnson Smith.

Speaking on his decision why the former Wa All-Stars gaffer was shown the exit, Nana Yaw Amponsah said Konadu failed to live up to the task that was presented to him.

He, however, acknowledged that Maxwell Konadu was part of the people pushing for his appointment as the CEO of the club but he sacked him because he is a results-oriented person.

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“I’m a results-oriented person and sacking him does not mean I have a problem with him. He was part of the people pushing me to be named Asante Kotoko Chief Executive Officer [CEO],” he said on Fire-for-Fire on Adom TV.

“He performed well but at a point, we felt we have to let him go. I don’t hate him. He is a good person but I’m a result-oriented person so sacking him was not an issue,” he added.

Asante Kotoko will represent the country in the 2022/23 CAF Champions League having won the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League.

The young football administrator was unveiled as the CEO of the club on a three year deal in August 2020.

During his first term, the club parted ways with Maxwell Konadu as head coach of the club following his unimpressive performance.

However, explaining why the club severed ties with the current Legon City boss, Mr Amponsah indicated his thirst for positive results.

Speaking exclusively on Adom TV’s Fire for Fire Show on Friday, he also revealed that the ex- Black Stars assistant coach helped push for his appointment as club CEO.

“I sacked him not because he’s a bad person, I am a solution oriented person,” he said.

“So when I engage you and I’m not seeing solutions then I have to look beyond you its that simple, nothing personal.

“There’s something people don’t know, one of the people pushing for me to become the CEO was Maxwell Konadu.” He added “he pushed and even lobbied for me.”

The Kumasi based side emerged as winners of the 2021/22 domestic top-flight campaign, their 25th league title in history.

Prosper Ogum’s men will be representing Ghana in the CAF Champions League next season.

Prior to the start of the campaign, the Porcupine Warriors embarked on a tour in Dubai.

The club managed to play a number of friendly matches with lower tier teams which helped shape their form ahead of the season.

Speaking on Adom TV’s Fire for Fire Show, the young administrator revealed their pre-season trip outside the country propelled the team to become champions.

“We had a good pre-season in Dubai and the teams we played were good sides.” He said “it helped us ahead of the season. People questioned our decision but it paid.”

“Though there are some considerations for another pre-season abroad, nothing has been decided yet.”

Kotoko will square it off with the winner of the MTN FA Cup for the Super Cup on September,4 ahead of 2022/23 league season.

Despite winning the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League, no Kotoko player earned a call-up to the Black Stars for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] qualifiers against Madagascar and the Central Africa Republic [CAR].

Speaking in an interview, Mr Amponsah, who is the Chief Executive Officer [CEO] of the club, revealed the side expected call-ups for some players but is of the view the technical team had what it needed.

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“We expected some of our players to be named in Black Stars squad but the technical handlers felt they have what they need but we will keep pushing them to do their best all the time,” the 2019 Ghana Football Association presidential candidate said on Adom TV.

The Porcupine Warriors will be representing Ghana in the CAF Champions League next season.

Asante Kotoko will play the winner of the MTN FA Cup final in the Ghana FA’s ‘champions of champions’.

The Porcupine Warriors have won the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League campaign with 60 points with three games to spare and will therefore represent the country in the Champions League.

Kotoko fought back to end their outstanding game against AshantiGold SC at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium 1-1 on Thursday.

Ghanaian clubs over the years have consistently struggled to make an impact in Africa in recent years, with qualification to the group stages of CAF’s inter-club competitions even hard to come by.

Hearts of Oak were eliminated in the second round of qualifying last season.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the club, the assistance of government will go a long towards helping the clubs succeed in Africa.

“If the government of the day is able to devote 6-8 million dollars for Afcon for the Black Stars to go and represent Ghana, then why can’t the government help a team like Kotoko or Hearts or whoever wins the league with a 1 million support to go and lift high the flag of Ghana,” he said.

“What is the prize of winning the league? It’s about 250,000 Ghana cedis which is about $30,000 and that cannot even be used to play one home match. So the prize money is not there, no sponsorship for the league.

“I would like to send a message to the entire nation, his Excellency the President, the government of the day. Ghana used to have four slots on the continent but now we have two due to the fact that we don’t really perform well when we go.’

“When Kotoko goes to Africa this time, we are not just going as Kotoko, we are going to represent Ghana,” he added.

Asante Kotoko will be guest to Great Olympics in the matchday 32 games on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium.

His comments come after the country’s football governing announced that the Porcupine Warriors’ away game against AshantiGold SC has been postponed due to security reasons.

Kotoko were to honor their matchday 29 game against the Miners at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium today Thursday May 19, 2022.

Nana Yaw Amponsah speaking to Kotoko supporters via Twitter Space on Thursday morning expressed his frustration and accused the leadership of letting the guards down.

According to him, the FA must be blamed for match manipulation. 

“The timing of the decision [punishing AshGold for match-fixing] is so wrong. They (GFA) have created an environment for more manipulations,” he said.

AshGold has been demoted to Division Two with a heavy fine after being found guilty of match-fixing against Inter Allies in their matchday 34 tie during the 2020/21 game. The sanction is expected to take effect next season.

Nana Yaw Amponsah added that, the games against AshGold must be honored as the Miners will have no impact on deciding the winners of this season’s Premier League.

“Why can’t adequate security be provided in Obuasi? Are we saying that after Sunday matches, the next [home] match of AshGold will be postponed too? Until Kotoko and AshantiGold play their game, no other match will be played and we are writing to the GFA to insist on it,” he said.

“The matches remaining for AshantiGold have a bearing on who becomes champions and gets relegated,” he concluded.

Asante Kotoko sit top of the league log with 56 points after 28 matches played.

The unfortunate incident claimed many lives, 21 years ago in the capital of Ghana.

The May 9th disaster occurred on May 9, 2001, at the Accra Sports Stadium in Ghana, during a league match between Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak.

It claimed the lives of 126 people, making it one of the worst stadium disasters in African history.

The walk took place on Saturday morning, with participants walking through some principal streets of the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi.

When the May 9 disaster happened, Herbert Mensah was the chairman of Asante Kotoko.

He has led a commemorative walk since the incident, but this year he was joined by Nana Yaw Amponsah.

Others who participated in the walk include: Patrick Osei Agyemang aka Countryman Songo, Nana Kwame Danquah, Communications Manager of Kotoko, David Obeng Nyarko and many others.

Though the purpose of the walk is to remember the victims, they also preach against hooliganism at stadiums.

“Everybody knows how I have been waiting for him, I tried once but it was difficult to get him. We will keep trying and when he is ready, he knows that the doors will be open,” he noed.

The 36-year-old before his move to Legon Cities in 2020/21 season came close to joining Kotoko.

Gyan signed a one-year deal with the Royals but ended the season without scoring a goal.

However, in an interview, Nana Yaw Amponsah said the club is ready to welcome Asamoah Gyan to the Porcupine Warriors when he is ready.

“Imagine Kotoko going for Champions League and we have Asamoah Gyan in our squad and he leading the attack with Mbella and Mfegue on either side of him that is the Champions League trophy right there. So, I am looking to that day, I keep telling you that if even it is going to be just one match, he should make us proud”

Meanwhile, Gyan has insisted on playing for Asante Kotoko before retiring from football.

“I would like to play for Asante Kotoko if I have to return [to playing football again]. I am a huge fan of the club,” Gyan Accra-based Joy FM.

Kotoko is currently the league leaders of the 2021/22 Premier League season with 55 points after 27 matches.

Gyan is the country’s all top goal scorer with 51 goals having played in the 2006, 2010, and 2014 World Cup in Germany, South Africa, and Brazil respectively.

Gyan has over 200 club goals, having represented the likes of Udinese, Sunderland, Rennes, and Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates.

According to him, he only needs 100,000 committed fans to contribute $100 each for the audacious project to take off.

“I will build a stadium for Asante Kotoko within 18 months if I should get 100,000 committed supporters to contribute $100 each,” he told Kumasi based Oyerepa FM.

“Anyone who pays $100 for the Asante Kotoko stadium project, will have his or her name and date of birth on the block forever,” he added.

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Kotoko, meanwhile, have been impressive in the ongoing 2021/22 season and currently sit top of the summit with 40 points after 18 games played.

Nana Yaw Amponsah’s appointment as CEO of the Porcupine Warriors has led to a boost in the club’s commercial value.

Sponsorship acquisitions are at an all-time high, while he recently got Access Bank to fund the purchase of a 2021 Volvo Marcopolo B8R Bio-Safe Executive Coach for the club.

Dr Ogum was named as the head coach of the Porcupine Warriors in September 2021.

The University of Cape Coast lecturer has been impressive so far in the ongoing 2021/22 Ghana Premier League with the Reds currently top of the league log with 40 points.

Speaking on the decision to hire Dr Ogum, Nana Yaw Amponsah, revealed that the management needed someone who will help accomplish their aim by building a WAFA-like and a CHAN-like team.

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“To have a WAFA-like team means that you would need a WAFA-like coach so we needed to sign Dr Ogum,” he told Kumasi based Oyerepa FM.

Dr Ogum was appointed as the successor of Portuguese trainer Mariano Baretto on a two-year deal.

Asante Kotoko will be hoping to keep their fine form intact when they travel to Bechem United in the matchday 19 games.

The young enterprising football administrator was unveiled as the CEO of the club in August 2020.

Despite losing the Premier League title to their rivals, Hearts of Oak last season, the Porcupine Warriors have been impressive in the ongoing 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season under Prosper Narteh Ogum.

Kotoko finished as league leaders in the first round of the Premier League with 37 points.

With the second round of the season set to return this weekend at the various stadia, Mr Genfi has praised the work done so far by Mr Amponsah.

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According to him, the board of directors of the club is considering extending the mandate of the 2019 Ghana Football Association [GFA] presidential candidate.

“I congratulate our Chief Executive Officer [CEO], Nana Yaw Amponsah for a great job so far for Asante Kotoko,” he told Accra-based Rainbow Radio.

“We are considering allowing him to continue beyond his tenure.

“The team is playing well and I pray we win the league title,” he added.

Kotoko will welcome Dreams FC to the Baba Yara Stadium in the matchday 18 games on Sunday.

The Reds under Prosper Narteh Ogum has started the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League on a good note.

After 15 matches played, the Porcupine Warriors sit on top of the league with 33 points with one match at hand against their rivals, Hearts of Oak.

Speaking ahead of their matchday 16 game against Elmina Sharks on Monday, the 2019 Ghana Football Association [GFA] presidential candidate is confident the club will achieve the objective at the end of the season.

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According to him, despite the brilliant start of the season, they will continue to work hard till the end of the season.

“We started the season well and before that, we had our plan for the season,” he said on Asempa FM.

“We planned to amass 40 points for the first of the season and we have 33 points with a game at hand. This clearly means we are on course to achieve our target of the season.

“We are sitting on the league log but we will still work hard in the second half of the season,” he added.

Kotoko will be hosted by Sharks at the Ndoum Stadium.

He made this statement after the CEO of Asante Kotoko, Nana Yaw Aponsah, paid a courtesy call on him in Accra to discuss the issues of benefit to the club.

The club reported their engagement with him on social media.

Mr Mensah on social media said he was impressed with efforts by Mr Amponsah to raise good sponsorship deals from some organisations to help support the club.

“I have been impressed with his off-field efforts which have seen him raise some 6m in sponsorship from organisations,” part of his tweet read.

Asante Kotoko extended their lead at the top of the Ghana Premier League on Sunday following a dramatic win over Medeama Sporting Club in matchday 14 at the Baba Yara Stadium.

The Porcupine Warriors will continue their campaign to win the GPL this season on Monday, 7th February when they play against Elmina Sharks away from home.

The Porcupine Warriors suffered a 1-0 defeat to Al Hilal United in their pre-season friendly game in Dubai on Thursday.

Christopher Nettey’s own goal in the 47^th minute settled the encounter.

Despite the defeat, Mr Amponsah was impressed with the performance of the players and is confident the team will get better ahead of the next season.

“It was a good game in the first place, some of the players arrived late but if you look at how we played, it was a good exercise for the team and the technical team,” he told Asempa FM in an exclusive interview.

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“In the second half, we played well and dominated the game but they only capitalised on the chance they had but in all, we are happy with this exercise but I am confident we will get better before the season starts,” he added.

Kotoko are expected to play another friendly game on Sunday.

The Reds endured a difficult 2020/21 campaign losing both the league and the MTN FA Cup titles to sworn rivals, Hearts of Oak.

In the bid to make a meaningful impact in the upcoming season, the two-time African Champions embarked on a pre-season training in Dubai days ago.

The Ghana Premier League kick starts on October 29 with Kotoko taking on Dreams FC away at the Theatre of Dreams at Dawu.

Following the sacking of Maxwell Konadu after matchday four of the just ended Ghana Premier League, the management appointed the Portugese gaffer on a year and a half deal with the club.

Barreto has come under intense pressure after the club failed to win the Ghana Premier League title.

And according to the 2019 Ghan Football Association aspirant, the management of the club settled on Barreto to manage the egos of the players.

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“The reason we hired Mariano was that at the time, most of Asante Kotoko players were getting called up to the Black Stars and we needed someone to manage the egos,” he told Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen Programme.

The Porcupine Warriors hired three coaches, Maxwell Konadu, Johnson Smith before Portuguese gaffer Mariano Barreto later took over and is still in charge.

Kotoko finished the season in the 2nd position with 57 points. They will host Berekum Chelsea in the quarterfinal of the MTN FA Cup on Sunday at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium.

Kondu was shown the exit in December after matchday 4 of the just ended Ghana Premier League.

After losing to Great Olympics at the Accra Sports Stadium, the Nana Yaw Amponsah led management parted ways with the former Black Stars assistant coach, a decision that attracted a lot of criticisms from the fan base.

Quizzed if he harbours regret about sacking the former Wa All Stars gaffer, the young administrator reiterated he has no regret.

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According to him, the winning rate of coach Konadu was not impressive and that led to the decision of his sacking.

“I don’t regret sacking Maxwell Konadu,” he said.

“At the time we were sacking him [Maxwell Konadu], his win percentage was not good but Mariano Barreto’s win record is good and it’s around 70 and 80 per cent and at the end of the season, we will access him and if he has not met our target, we will make a decision,” he added.

Following the sacking of Kondau, the Porcupine Warriors appointed Portuguese manager, Mariano Barreto as a permanent manager on a one and half year deal. 

The issue of match-fixing in the country has dominated the local media and the international media.

This comes after an Inter Allies defender, Hashmin Musah scored two own goals in their 7-0 defeat to Asahgold in their final fixture of the season at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium.

Despite both clubs denying any wrongdoing in their separate statements, the country’s football governing body has instituted an investigative team to deal with the allegations.

However, Mr Amponsah, who is the Chief Executive Officer for Ghana Premier League record champions, Asante Kotoko, believes it’s about time the whip is cracked to ensure such incidents will never happen in the history of Ghana’s football.

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“We have a product that has been able to ship players from nothing to something. Kamaldeen Sulemana left FC Nordsjaelland to FC Rennais. Baba Rahman from Dreams FC to Asante Kotoko to Auguberg to Chelsea. Daniel Amartey from Inter Allies to Copenhagen to Leicester City. This indicates that our product is good but the issue of betting is now a problem,” he told Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen.

“I will not be quick to judge but what will influence a player to score an own goal but prior to that, some goals were scored that were questionable but everybody involved in this must be dealt with properly because we don’t need such things in our football.

“The international media has carried the story and this is not good for our football,” he added.

Players of Inter Allies and Ashgold have been slapped with a travel ban by the GFA.

The Porcupine Warriors staged their home matches at the Accra Sports Stadium prior to the start of the 2020/21 football season.

However, the club opted to use the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium for the second half of the season.

But, according to the young and enterprising administrator, he is happy with the performance of his side but would have emerged as champions should they have played their home matches at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

“I believe 100% that if we played out home matches at home we would have won the league,” Mr Amponsah, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the club, told Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen.

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“If we had played at home some results would have been different.

“We led the away team at the end of the season but the home was a different story,” he added.

Asante Kotoko finished the season in the 2^nd position with 57 points. Meanwhile, Kotoko are in contention to win the MTN FA Cup.

The Porcupine Warriors will host Berekum Chelsea in the quarterfinals of the competition on Sunday at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium.

The young administrator, who was appointed in August 2019, was tasked to market the club to be economically viable.

However, the issue of Phar Rangers where Nana Yaw Amponsah was the owner and bankroller of the club has dominated the local media for the wrong reasons.

The club has been demoted to the third division after a ruling by the Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association [GFA].

But, according to the 2019 GFA Presidential aspirant, he remains resolute in achieving his mandate at the club.

“Recently they [Phar Rangers] had some issues and decided to pull out [of GFA competitions]. My checks revealed that it was some security issues],” he said on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen Program on Thursday.

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“I was briefed after the management of Phar Rangers decided to pull out of GFA competitions. They have able management. It was after the decision I was called upon to intervene for the club to rescind the decision.

“I leave the decision of the management of Phar Rangers to decide on whether to play in the Division three or not.

“I believe common sense has prevailed.

“My focus is on Asante Kotoko and that is what I am focused on at the moment and nothing can distract me,” he added.

Asante Kotoko finished the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League in the 2^nd position. The Porcupine Warriors will be hoping to win the MTN FA Cup.

Kotoko will host Berekum Chelsea in the quarterfinal of the competition on Sunday at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium.

Prior to the start of the 2020/21 season, the Porcupine Warriors were forced to move to the Accra Sports Stadium due to the renovation works at the stadium.

However, the club switched to the Obuasi Len Clay stadium prior to the start of the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium.

Their rivals, Hearts of Oak have won the top-flight with a game to end the season.

According to the Chief Executive Officer [CEO], the change of venue affected the performance of the team.

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“If we had played at the Baba Yara Stadium, we would’ve won this league with 10 points gap because, at some point, we were leading Hearts of Oak with four points but we thank God we didn’t disgrace ourselves, considering all the disadvantages,” Mr Amponsah told Happy FM.

“Some of the refereeing decisions that went against Kotoko this season, I believe if it was at the Baba Yara Stadium, the fear of God will be in some people.

“We all know that home advantage plays a key role in our football,” he added.

Kotoko, meanwhile, will wrap up their season with a home game against Elmina Sharks at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium on Sunday.

The Porcupine Warriors will now switch focus to the MTN FA CUP and they have been drawn against Berekum Chelsea in the quarter-final of the competition, where they are the defending champions.

Multiple reports have emerged that the pair are not on good terms after the Ghana Football Association elections held two years ago.

However, speaking about the issue, Nana Yaw Amponsah denied and rubbished any claim or report in an interview on Happy Sports that Kurt Okraku is an enemy.

“People have this perception that when you go into a competition with someone then the followers presume or think you are enemies”, he told Accra-based Happy FM.

“After losing the elections, I congratulated him and moved on. I have no problems with him (Kurt Okraku)”.

“I don’t have anything against him and will be surprised if he does,” he added.

Nana Yaw Amponsah also confirmed that he was still the Chief Executive Officer of Asante Kotoko despite reports that he has been banned by the GFA as a director of Phar Rangers.

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After eight months of being in charge of the club as CEO, the young football administrator has secured some juicy sponsorships for the club.

Speaking on Fire-for-Fire on Adom TV, Mr Amponsah said they have done extremely well in securing sponsorship for the club in the midst of coronavirus pandemic that has wrecked the world and has promised to do more in the bid to make the club great.

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Asked about sponsorship deals, he said: “More to come, before the season ends you will see more sponsorship deals.”

“We have done a lot because in this Covid era it is not easy to bring sponsorship.

“Every company in this world is struggling through Covid so to get sponsors to bring in the kind of money they have brought is not easy.

“No supporters at stadia and there are no proceeds from games and when we opted to play in Accra, all our expenses have been taken care of by the board and it’s not easy but we are surviving.

“If it has not been sponsorship and the help from the board we would have been struggling,” he added.

The stadium has been under renovation since early last year and as a result, the Porcupine Warriors have had to relocate to the Accra Sports Stadium.

This season, Kotoko have played all of their home games in Accra of which majority have been behind closed doors due to the outbreak of Covid-19.

Speaking on Adom TV, Mr Amponsah labeled playing away from Kumasi as a challenge for the club this season.

“Look at the challenges we’ve gone through, playing away from home from the entire first round and going forward it is going to continue for a while.

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“We’ve not played a match from where we call our home. Look at the other team going through the same thing, King Faisal; you see how they are struggling. We need the Baba Yara Stadium as soon as possible and I know authorities are working on it,” he said.

The Porcupine Warriors currently have the fourth-worst home record this season picking up 11 points from seven games.

Mr Amponsah believes his side needs to head back to Kumasi as early as possible.

“We need the stadium as early as yesterday because that is our home,” he stated.

Kotoko face Eleven Wonders away when the second round of the Ghana Premier League resumes.

The record Ghana Premier League champions had a torrid start of the campaign.

After a poor start, Maxwell Konadu was shown the exit after losing to Great Olympics in December 2020.

According to him, the club has fought through difficult times with most of the key players injured.

He added that when they are able to get their full team and sign some players, Asante Kotoko will be the team to beat.

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“We are re-building and even with that, we have lost just a match,” he said on Adom TV on the Fire-for-Fire programme.

“At a point, injuries were worrying us and at a point, most of the key players were out so when we are able to build properly, we will be unplayable.

“Some key players will be announced soon so I will urge the supporters to stay calm because we will bring in players to improve the side,” he added.

Asante Kotoko finished the first round of the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League season at the 4^th position on the league log with 27 points with a game at hand.

Despite the lack of football activities following the outbreak of Covid-19, Asante Kotoko wrote to the Ghana Football Association to confirm interest to participate in the Caf inter-club competition.

Kotoko were eliminated from the Caf Champions League and were demoted to the Confederations Cup.

However, Kotoko lost to ES Setif as they were dumped out of the Africa competition.

Supporters registered their frustrations following the club’s poor outings in Africa.

However, Mr Amponsah, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the club, in an interview with Adom TV on Fire-for-Fire, revealed why he made a statement on why the club must play in the Caf interclub competition.

“I wanted us to go to Africa because it was political,” he said.

“I did an analysis to the board and they accepted it. It is like Asante Kotoko booking an Afcon slot.

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“Ghana had an impressive slot in Africa but because we failed to perform, we have lost those slots so I needed to make a statement with Asante Kotoko.

“The second aspect was for commercial purposes and also to attract the right players because Fabio Gama joined the club because of Champions League football.

“Winning Africa which is the Champions League or Confederations Cup takes a lot of time and I think we have learned a lot from our campaign.

“I promised we will build a CHAN like team and though we did not perform in Africa our players have been invited to the Black Stars so it shows we are doing something at the club and the latest player to join is Danlad Ibrahim,” he added.

The 2019 Ghana Football Association presidential candidate was given the nod as the CEO of the Ghana Premier League side in August 2020.

In his first 100 days, Mr Amponsah has been able to secure sponsorships for the club.

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“If I was to be outside and judging the Nana Yaw Amponsah administration I will give them 75%,” he said in an interview on Adom TV.

“But with what we want to do for Asante Kotoko I can say that we have not even done 20% but we are still on course.

“The public will judge me after my end of tenure as the CEO of Kotoko,” he added.

He signed a three-year contract with the Kumasi-based club and was touted as the new ‘Messiah’ of Asante Kotoko.

The record Ghana Premier League winners have endured a torrid campaign. The poor start of the season led to the sacking of Maxwell Konadu.

The Porcupine Warriors currently occupy the 4th position on the league with 27 points with a game to spare in the first round.

But, according to the enterprising football administrator, he is hopeful that his side can clinch the ongoing season title despite the difficult start.

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Asked if Kotoko can win the league, he said: “Definitely we can win the league. As far as I am concerned and from where I sit I see us doing that,” he told Adom TV.

“Look at the challenges we’ve gone through, playing away from home from the entire first round and going forward it is going to continue for a while.

“We’ve not played a match from where we call our home. Look at the other team going through the same thing, King Faisal; you see how they are struggling. We need the Baba Yara Stadium as soon as possible and I know authorities are working on it.

“We need the stadium as early as yesterday because that is our home,” he said.

The young football administrator was appointed as the CEO of the club in August 2020 to replace George Amoako.

Mr Amponsah was expected to render accounts to the supporters of the club last year but the Covid-19 outbreak halted their plans.

However, according to him, an account will be rendered at the end of the season.

“I will, first of all, thank Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the entire board, especially Dr Kwame Kyei, who is the board chairman,” he told Fire-for-Fire on Adom TV.

“The fans who are the owners of the club, I know the 100 days are over but I will surely do a press conference to account for our 100 days.

“We wanted to do it at the end of the season and I know the supporters will be impressed because we have done very well,” he added.

The Ghana Premier League powerhouse were crashed out of the Caf Champion League after failing to play Al Hilal.

The second leg was called off after Covid-19 struck the camp of Kotoko in Sudan.

The Porcupine Warriors were dropped into the Confederations Cup. ES Setif shocked the Ghanaian side 2-1 at the Accra Sports Stadium in the first leg.

However, the record Ghana Premier League champions held the Algerians to a 0-0 drawn game in Algiers over the weekend.

Speaking exclusively to Asempa FM, the renowned football administrator lauded the playing body despite failing to book a group phase qualification.

“The playing body has done well despite our inability to qualify,” he said.

“We looked at how the players played away from home, they have made us and the country proud. We hope they play together.

“We now turn our attention to the Ghana Premier League and we hope things will get better,” he said.

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The CEO also appealed to the government to speed up with renovation works currently ongoing at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

According to him, the Accra Sports Stadium hasn’t been favourable for his side in the ongoing season as the team has performed better in their away games, juxtaposing it with games played in Accra.

He appealed to the government to help the team return to their traditional venue.

“We all know that Accra Sports Stadium is not our home. Our home is the Baba Yara Sports Stadium,” Mr Amponsah told the media after Kotoko’s goalless draw against ES Setif in Algeria.

“This time we haven’t lost any match away from the Accra Sports Stadium, which is a very good record. So we will plead with the government to help us so we can go back to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium so they should speed up with the renovation works”, he added.

The Baba Yara Sports Stadium, which serves as the home venue for Asante Kotoko and King Faisal, has been closed down for over a year for renovation works to be carried out.

The Porcupine Warriors have relocated to the Accra Sports Stadium to use the venue for their home games in the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League as well as in the CAF Inter-club competition.

Asante Kotoko have a big game coming up against their arch-rivals Hearts of Oak at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, February 28, 2021.

Before the appointment of Mr Amponsah as the CEO of the club, Mr Kuffour was heavily considered for the vacant job.

However, Mr Kuffour could not get the job because majority of the Board of Directors had then settled on Mr Amponsah as the new CEO after George Amoako-led management was dissolved.

Asante Kotoko, record Ghana Premier League winners, have dominated the headlines for the wrong reasons for the past months under Mr Amponsah’s management.

Despite securing some mind-boggling sponsorship deals in less than a year under his auspices as the CEO of the Porcupine Warriors, Mr Amponsah has come under intense pressure for the past weeks due to his leadership style as it has been described by some deep throat sources of the club as unsatisfactory.

One key figure who crusaded for Mr Amponsah’s appointment was Dr Kofi Amoa-Abban who is a friend to the former Phar Rangers president since their days at Mfantsipim College through to the University of Ghana. But reports indicte that Mr Amponsah is having a rocky relationship with the Rigworld Group boss.

Following the inauguration of the Board of Directors, Mr Abban tweeted that the club will soon put together their television channel which will carry out their activities.

It would be recalled that Mr Abban dashed out a Toyota Prado to Mr Amponsah and a Toyota Fortuna to then head coach of the club, Maxwell Konadu.

However, Mr Amponsah, as part of his demands, asked for a V8 vehicle but not a Toyota Prado. He then resorted to some board members and complained to them that the car offered to him is below his standard as the CEO of the club.

This statement did not go down well with some Board Members.

There is also a rift between Mr Amponsah and Boateng Genfi. This rift emerged after Mr Genfi granted an interview with Graphic Sports. 

Sources in the club have indicated that Mr Amponsah was unhappy and cautioned Mr Mr Genfi not to grant an interview without his approval.

At a board meeting following the sacking of Maxell Konadu, Mr Genfi questioned Mr Amponsah on why he sacked the former Black Stars B coach without informing the Board of Directors but Mr Amponsah questioned Mr Genfi’s knowledge citing that at Manchester United, Ed Woodward who is the Chief Executive Officer takes the decision on the future of the coach and not the Glazers.

This utterance did not obviously go down well with the board.

However, Mr Amponsah days later, regretted his actions and his attitude towards Mr Genfi and wanted to move to offer him an apology since he knows the role Mr Genfi played before his appointment. However, Mr Genfi has declined to meet Mr Amponsah.

The leadership style of the young administrator has been questioned by the Board with majority crusading for the termination of his contract.

Ahead of Kotoko’s Caf Champions League game against Al Hilal in Omdurman, the players threatened to boycott the game if their unpaid entitlements were not paid before the game. 

The management hurriedly moved to settle the debt to avoid any embarrassment in Sudan.

The match was subsequently called off after seven players and four officials tested positive for Covid-19.

Players of Kotoko have, however, demanded to meet the entire Board over the leadership style of Mr Amponsah when they arrive in Ghana from Sudan.

Before the departure of the team for the game, it was reported that Mr Amponsah was having a rocky relationship with the Board Chairman Dr Kwame Kyei which has currently created a communication vacuum.

The Board of Directors was furious after coach Konadu was sacked by Mr Amponsah without seeking approval from the board as Footballghana.com had reported earlier.

But in an interview with Kumasi based Oyerepa FM, the 2019 Ghana Football Association presidential candidate admitted he was wrong.

Mr Kuffour, who is now on the radar to take up the role, made 54 appearances for Ghana, scoring three goals and played at four AFCON tournaments and was part of Ghana’s maiden FIFA World Cup squad in 2006.

Messrs Genfi and Abban were the two key pillars who crusaded for Mr Amponsah’s appointment but they seem to have regretted settling on him for the job but with the current situation at the club, Mr Amponsah future looks unclear and it’s possible the Board will now go in for their man in the name of Mr Kuffour for the CEO job.

Mr Amponsah was awarded a three-year deal as the CEO of the club by the Board of Directors.

Coach Konadu, a former Kotoko forward, was sacked after their shock 1-0 defeat to Great Olympics in the ongoing 2020/21 Ghana Premier League season at the Accra Sports Stadium.

In an interview, Mr Amponsah said that he did not inform the board of directors before terminating the contract of the former Black Stars assistant coach.

“I made a mistake for sacking Maxwell Konadu because I did not officially write to inform the board,” Mr Amponsah told Kumasi based Oyerepa FM.

“I admit I am wrong and I accept that. Maxwell Konadu’s records at Kotoko was not bad but it was time for him to go and other big clubs in the world have done that but I again admit I was wrong for not informing the board.

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“Currently, the club is under the guidance of Johnson Smith until a new head coach is found,” he said.

Since Konadu’s departure, Kotoko have been involved in two games which they recorded a win and a defeat. The defeat came in their Caf Champions League clash with Al Hilal in Accra.

The disappointing 1-0 result means Kotoko are on the brink of elimination from the competition at the second round stage if they don’t up their game.

The Ghana Premier League side arrived in Mauritania on Wednesday afternoon as they gear up for the clash against Nouadhibou FC.

Kotoko are winless in their first two matches played in the ongoing 2020/21 Ghana Premier League.

But according to Mr Amponsah, he admits that poor start of the season but he remains hopeful of good results against Nouadhibou.

“We have not started our 2020/21 Ghana Premier League on a good note and I expected that because most of the teams did not get enough time for pre-season due to Covid-19,” he exclusively told Asempa FM.

“Most of the matches that will be played will be part of the pre-season but we as a club are ready because this is Kotoko and no other club.

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“The players are ready and the coach is making sure we get our first win here before the return game in Ghana.

“In our game against Berekum Chelsea, the home fans were happy and this shows that we as a club are doing something right.

“I can promise that we will do our best to get the best results for Ghana and the club,” he added.

A total number of 21 players were named for the game by Maxwell Konadu. Brazilian midfielder, Fabio Gama, who arrived at the club this summer, has been axed from the club.

Meanwhile, the match has been rescheduled from Friday to Sunday.