Sowah: It’s over with Kotoko
The strained relationship between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and goalkeeper Ernest Sowah has taken a turn for the worse after the player wrote to the club requesting for a mutual termination of the contract between them which had one year to run.
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The surprise request from Sowah last week came on the heels of a scathing attack on the goalie by Kotoko’s Chief Executive, Dr Kwame Kyei, who allegedly accused the player of bribery during last season’s Premier League clash between Kotoko and Liberty Professionals at Dansoman last season. Kotoko lost the match 1-2 with Sowah attracting a yellow card.
Football administrator and local manager of Sowah, Nana Oduro Sarfo, confirmed to the Graphic Sports yesterday that, the goalie had requested for “mutual termination of the contract” because he no longer had the trust of his boss and also felt unwanted at the club.
He added that Sowah, who joined Kotoko in 2015 as a free agent after featuring for CS Don Bosco of DR Congo, did not take the accusation of bribery kindly because he had never misconducted himself at the club, hence his request to be released.
“We requested to have the contract terminated and Kotoko asked up to put it into writing which we have done.
“We have take possession of his [Sowah’s] passport because they left him out of their CAF Confederation Cup squad,” said Nana Sarfo.
Sowah’s manager explained also that apart from the baseless allegation from the Kotoko boss, fans of the club had allegedly threatened the player not to drive his car to the training grounds, hence he felt unsafe to continue plying his trade with the Porcupine Warriors.
Despite having little playing time last season, the goalie’s omission from Kotoko’s continental squad, which includes newly signed Michael Abu from Ebusua Dwarfs and the promotion of teenage shot-stopper Ibrahim Danlad, was what finally triggered Sowah’s exit as he felt unwanted in Coach Steve Polack’s team, explained Nana Sarfo.
“Sowah, therefore, has no other choice but to leave the club by requesting for a termination of his contract.”
He indicated that the former Tema Youth and Berekum Chelsea goalkeeper was in Accra training in the hope that Kotoko would free him of his contract to pursue his career elsewhere.
“We have received offers from foreign clubs and local sides, including Hearts of Oak, and we’re hoping this Kotoko issue would be over so that Ernest can continue with his career.