<<Print>>

The destiny of the nation in this year's African Champions League rest in the hands of the Porcupine Warriors, Fabulous Kumasi Asante Kotoko who are Ghana�s sole representative of Ghana on the continent. Its heartwarming to note that Kotoko have salvaged a little image for Ghana by mustering courage to compete in Africa at a time when all other qualifiers in Hearts of Oak, Heart of Lions and King Faisal, have all pulled out of Africa citing financial constraints as the problem. I'm sure Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) would have slashed down the number of slots available to Ghana in Africa, if Kotoko had not gotten on board the African train. Of course, Ghanaian clubs have made huge impact in Africa over the years accounting for the two places or slots we enjoy at the moment. I think Hearts of Oak and Kotoko have done marvelously in the past, but things seem to be going downhill. Over the past five years, clubs have failed woefully anytime they have participated in the continental club competitions, that alone could have been a worry, not to talk of what I term as 'wholesale pullout' by the clubs while other countries continue to make inroads. As the Chairman of the Premier League Board cleverly puts it, all Ghanaians no matter your club affiliation, is expected to rally behind Kotoko, because the hardworking Mr Abra-Appiah is the first to admit that Ghana, risked losing the luxury of sending two clubs to Africa if Kotoko also decided to stay off the competition. Winning two trophies in the past, Kotoko is one big club on the continent with a huge reputation to protect and that must not be lost on the management and players as well as the playing body. The Technical Team, headed by Paa Kwasi Fabien, is not new in Africa. And though the head will take responsibility for any eventuality, the experience of Opoku Afriyie who is the Team Manager, Awudu Nuhu, the Physical Trainer, and Sarfo Gyamfi, the Director of Operations, will count positively to the cause of the Porcupine Warriors. Though the team lacks tournament experience, there exist players in Soulama Abdoulaye, Jordan Opoku, Daniel Nii Adjei, Francis Coffie, Ofosu Appiah, among others whose influence and expertise gained in Africa will be crucial to the Kotoko campaign. New faces in the team such as Kabiru Imoro, Gideon Baah, Baffour Gyan, etc know the task ahead is not that simple and the expectations of supporters at home is sky high since the club's last success in Africa came twenty seven years ago when Kotoko emerged 1-0 victors over old foes, Al Ahly of Egypt at the Kumasi Sports Stadium. I'm sure Kotoko faithfuls are caught up in nostalgia as the memories of great events in the past resurfaces. As though they are chapters of accidents, the failure of the team in recent past has had something to do with Quality of Players, Technical Team and Sound Administration. Maybe you are shocked by this assertion, which is normal, but just reflect on the history making team of Kotoko in 1971 and 1983, and you will realise the veracity in my statement. That however, is not to claim that the current administration cannot achieve what was done in the early 70's and 80's. I know Alhaji Ejee and his men and their capabilities, at least per credentials the current chairman can lay claim to the glory that he was at the helm when Kotoko first made it into the 'money zone' or the group stage of the 2006 CAF Champions League, save the ensuing results in the group where Al Ahly handed Kotoko that infamous 4-0 hammering in Cairo, Coach E.K Afranie was washed white on the day.