Kotoko legend Opoku Nti urges club to buy national team players to regain ‘big club’ status in Africa

Asante Kotoko legend Samuel Opoku Nti has urged his former club to recruit players who gain call-ups to the various national teams of Ghana if they would want to regain their status in Africa inter-club competitions.

The Porcupine Warriors have been struggling to regain their status on the continent.

They have not been able to go past the round of 16 stages in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup competitions in the last decade.

The former General Manager of the Reds believes that players with national teams background will make the team competitive in Africa and not be mere participants in the Caf competitions.

“If we want to play in Africa, then we should buy national team players. He (the player) must be matured before he can play for Kotoko. If he is not matured then he will need time to develop…it’s not only Kotoko, the big clubs in Europe have their kind of players they buy,” he said in an interview with Opemsuo Radio.

“However, Kotoko is a great team and anybody who has the opportunity to play should thank God and give his best. Kotoko is like Liverpool’s slogan “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. Kotoko will forever be will you even when after you are done. It will open doors. If you serve Kotoko well, then you will find yourself in what the bible described as “good name is better than riches,” he ended.

Asante Kotoko have won the CAF Champions League twice with Opoku Nti playing a major role in winning the second one in 1983.

They have since come hassle to winning either trophy several times including reaching the finals of the Champions League in 1993, the Winners Cup and Confederations Cup in 2002 and 2004 respectively

Asante Kotoko are currently sits top of the ongoing Ghana Premier League with 44 points, four more above second-placed Hearts of Oak.