Jerome Otchere writes: The Next Kotoko leader

After more than 20 years of a recurring problem, most Asante Kotoko supporters are painfully aching and growing weary of the club’s leadership challenges. There are fears within some quarters that an antidote may not even be found soon. 

Per the premise on which the hallowed Manhyia Palace retained former Chair Kwame Kyei to head the recently dissolved Board, the accomplished petroleum businessman was thought to be the right figure to finance and steer the club. 

Also, based on how he breathed energy into the ranks of the supporters coupled with notable works, Nana Yaw Amponsah (NYA) the immediate past Chief Execute Officer, had all the characteristics of a modern-day football administrator. 

Yet neither of them survived the aged-long Kotoko plague with leadership. November 2023 would have been Kwame Kyei’s 7th year as chairman having earlier served four years from 2016 and kept under a new Board in 2020. 

August 2023 would have as well marked exactly three years since NYA assumed office officially as Kotoko CEO but despite his rising popularity and verifiable achievements, he and his management was axed along with the Board. 

The contemporary history of the club amply shows that regardless of a leader’s work, and how that leader endears himself to the supporters plus achievements, if that leader is unable to manage the oft-puerile, counterproductive things behaviours such as petty disagreement, boardroom infighting, lies, and gossip, that leader would not last. 

It chiefly explains why in the last two decades, the club has had no single leader in office for over three years without bitter quarrels either from within or with key club stakeholders including without any disrespect, the lively Kumasi media. 

Given how NYA gingered supporters, erected decent, container structures for the players at Adako Jachie, vigorously sought sponsorship from the corporate world, clinched the league title in his second season for example, the ex-CEO seemed properly positioned to break the third-year leadership curse. 

But reports of a feud between the former CEO and his chair, perceived or genuine, early in their reign, threatened the stability of both leaders and the peace of the club. The constant, sometimes mindless tirades by a media outlet owned by the chair against the management were unhelp by any definition. 

The resignation of Dr. Prosper Ogum, the coach who ensured the league title win, affected the management plans aside hurting fans and when coaching, performance, and results turned disappointing, both the board and the management were heading into post-season difficulties with the Palace. 

The Board’s inertia in asserting themselves in the corporate context, exerting responsible control of management and its affairs is what plunged us into chaos. If the Board were comeptent, NYA would have been a better CEO, or he would have been fired early. 

The important issues of the role of the Palace beyond appointing Boards, financing, infrastructural development, youth team investment, merchandising, supporters’ organisation, media engagement, etc., must take centre stage of all discussions. 

We must accept the IMC as there is no time but for the next substantive Kotoko leader, beyond being well-resourced by the Palace, the person must be ingenious to drive fans along in everything while seeking sustainable means of financing the club. That would be more beneficial than anything. 

The next Kotoko leader must expect the very things that ruined others and pre-empt them lest the club slips back into the stagnation pit. The fatigue of the fans is real. No one should underestimate that. Some are heartbroken over the leadership paralysis. 

There will invariably be differences between Board and management, the coach and management, and vice versa. But if Kotoko administrators of this generation cannot peacefully resolve petty problems and allow things to embarrassingly play out in the media all the time, the crises that engulf the club’s leadership would return and ensure more stunted growth.

Source: Jerome Otchere