Shape up or get out

The Executive Chairman of Asante Kotoko, Dr Kwame Kyei, has furiously condemned what he describes as the lackadaisical attitude of his players and their lacklustre performance in recent times, instructing them to quit the club if they are not ready to be committed.

In a leaked audio of a meeting in Kumasi last Monday between the Kotoko boss, the players and team’s technical staff, a voice purported to be that of Dr Kyei was heard cautioning both the coach and players that he would not hesitate to axe them even if it meant assembling a new team altogether.

The crisis meeting was held in the wake of Kotoko’s elimination from the MTN FA Cup by Division One side, Asokwa Deportivo, last Sunday at Obuasi and a 0-1 loss to Aduana Stars at Dormaa-Ahenkro the previous week.

The encounter at Nana Agyeman Badu Park made the headlines for the wrong reasons after the two clubs started the match with 10 players each over suspected superstitious beliefs.

New attitude and professionalism

Sounding almost like giving up, Dr Kyei was heard charging the players and technical handlers to be up and doing because as professionals they were not doing him a favour by playing for Kotoko.

He warned that whoever was not ready to be committed to the club, from the coach to the players, must quit since he would prefer that option [assembling a new team] to the current embarrassing situation.

Dr Kyei said Kotoko had become a laughing stock, with people insulting them for no reason, and warned that their recent setbacks should come to a halt immediately.

Dr Kyei’s frustration

The bankroller of Kotoko also spoke about how frustrating it was raising money to pay salaries when nothing good was coming in return from the investment.

He challenged the players to find out from their colleagues at other Premier League teams if they had better conditions of service and monthly salary packages compared to what existed at Kotoko.

The Kotoko boss demanded from both the players and technical handlers, led by the head coach, Maxwell Konadu, an explanation for their 1-2 loss to their second tier league cross-town rivals Deportivo.