Asante Kotoko F.C.

Asante Kotoko FC
Full name Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club
Nickname(s) Porcupines
Founded 1935
Ground Baba Yara Stadium (formerly Kumasi Sports Stadium),
Kumasi, Ghana
(Capacity: 40,000)
Manager Maxwell Konadu
League Glo Premier League
2010–11 3rd

Asante Kotoko Football Club, also known as Asante Kotoko, is one of the biggest and most successful professional football clubs in Ghana as well as being one of the more successful teams in Africa, having won twenty national league titles. They have also twice been champions of Africa. The club's home ground is the 40,000 all-seater Kumasi Sports Stadium. The full name of the club is Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club.

According to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, an international organization recognized by FIFA, Asante Kotoko was Africa's best club of the 20th century.[1]

Contents

History

The foundation of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club was laid by 13 young Ashanti boys led by a young driver, Mr. Kwasi Kumah, ably supported by L.Y.Asamoah an electrician. Mr. Kwasi Kumah, a native of Nyankyerenease near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, was a chauffeur to an English colonial military officer, Colonel Ross, in Accra. While in Accra, Kwasi Kumah nurtured the idea of forming a football team when he watched an exciting football match between Accra Standfast and Hearts of Oak. Hearts won the match 2-1 and Sir Gordon Guggisberg, then Governor of the Gold Coast, presented a set of jerseys to Hearts for their good performance.

When Colonel Ross returned home for good and Kumah went back home to Kumasi, he bought a set of jerseys to start his football team. With co-operation from his good friend, L.Y.Asamoah, he formed the Ashanti United Football Club in 1926. Five years later the team was renamed Kumasi Titanics. The team was really handicapped because most of the players worked in government organizations like the Prisons and Railways and had been transferred from Kumasi. Titanics did not find enough luck in their new name and in 1934 they adopted a more powerful name, Mighty Atoms. Still the club did not see much progress and in 1935, Mr J.S.K. Frimpong, popularly called Teacher Frimpong, then a teacher of the Kumasi Government School who had all the time shown interest in the club, organized some boys from his school and proposed a change of name from Titanics to Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club. Permission had to be obtained from the Asantehene (King of Ashanti) because the name "Kotoko", meaning "Porcupine" is the official symbol of the Ashanti nation. The Asantehene, Nana Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, became the first life patron of the club. Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club was subsequently formally founded in 1935.

Asante Kotoko's emblem features the "Porcupine", displaying an inbuilt arsenal of sharp spikes for use when attacked by an enemy. [1]

In July 2011, Asante Kotoko and English Premier League club Sunderland signed a partnership agreement, which will see the Sunderland offering practical support and advice in youth coaching, player development, fitness and medical matters as well as football business strategy to Kotoko.[2]

Honours

1970, 1983,
Runners-up - 1967, 1971, 1973, 1982, 1993
Runners-up - 2002
Runners-up - 2004
1959, 1963/64, 1964/65, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988/89, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 2003,2005, 2007/08
1958, 1960, 1976, 1978, 1984, 1989/90, 1997/98, 2001
1981, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008
1999/00, 2001, 2005
2003, 2007
2004, 2005, 2008

Performance in CAF competitions

2004 - Third Round
2005 - First Round
2006 - Group Stage
2007 - Preliminary Round
2009 - First Round
2010 - Preliminary Round
1966: Quarter-Finals
1967: Finalist
1969: Semi-Finals
1970: Champion
1971: Finalist
1973: Finalist
1976: Quarter-Finals
1981: Second Round
1982: Finalist
1983: Champion
1984: First Round
1987: Semi-Finals
1988: First Round
1990: Semi-Final
1992: Quarter-Finals
1993: Finalist
2004 - Finalist
2008 - Group Stage
1995 - Quarter-Finals
1997 - Second Round
1979 - First Round
1985 - Quarter-Finals
1991 - First Round
1999 - Second Round
2002 - Finalist
2003 - Quarter-Finals
2005 - First Round

Most Memorable Squads

Squad included: Robert Mensah, Ben Acheampong, Dogo Moro, Cifford Odame, Sammy Stevens, Adarkwa, Ibrahim Sunday (Captain), Yaw Sam, Osei Kofi, Abukari Gariba, Albert Essuman "Baby Pele", Malik Jabir, Ohene Brenya, Sulley, Osmanu

Head Coach: Aggrey-Fynn

Club President: I. K. Moukerzel

Sam Ampeh, Haruna Yusif, Samuel "Old" Gyabaah, Charles Oppong, Seth Ampadu, Ahmed Rockson , Papa Arko, George Kennedy, Albert Asase, Opoku Afriyie (Captain), Kofi Badu, Francis Kumi, John Abeka, Karim Zito, Joe Gyekye, Addae Kyenkyehene, Nuru Mohammed, Opoku Nti,

Head Coach: J. E. Adabie

Club President: Phill Simms (Spent his personal money on acquisition of players)

Joseph Carr, Ernest Apau, Kwasi Appiah, Seth Ampadu, Addae Kyenkyehene, Papa Arko (Captain), John Smith Bannerman, Yahya Kassum, Ebo Mends, Opoku Nti*, Isaac Afranie, Arkye Ezuah, Charles Kwame Sampson, Ahmed Rockson, Emmanuel "Joe Tex" Quaye, Francis Agyeman

Head Coach: Ibrahim Sunday

Team Manager: Malik Jabir

Masseur: Omono Asamoah

Club President: Ernest Yaw Bawuah

Mohammed Odoom, Nana Eshun, Kwaku Kyere, Thomas "Gambo" Hammond, Ahmed Rockson, Abdul Razak (Captain), Sam Ayippey, Sarfo Gyamfi, Prince Opoku Polley, George Arthur, Windsor Kofi Abbrey, Anthony Osei Kwadwo, Kwaku Menkah, Saarah Mensah

Head Coach: Malik Jabir

Team Manager: Victor Sirebour

Masseur: Omono Asamoah

Club President: Ofori Nuako (Paa O)

Anthony Osei Kwadwo, Frank Amankwah, Agyeman Duah, Frimpong Manso (Captain), Emmanuel Ampiah "Chairman", Alex Nyarko, George Arthur, Joseph Okyere, Mahmoud Ahmed, Raphael Akakpo "Patron", Seidu Yusif

Head Coach: Malik Jabir 2006 champions league plus former players Mohammed Alhassan, Aziz Ansah, Godfred Yeboah, Mutala Mohammed, Sam Addo, Edmond Owusu Ansah, Yussif Chipsah, George Yamoah, Nana Ahine Duah, Kwame Obeng Darko, Ahmed Toure, Douglas Nkrumah, Michael Osei, Gabriel Issah Ahmed, Charles Kwaku Asampong Barnie Bismark Taylor, Joseph Hendricks, George Owu, Louis Quainoo, Osei Boateng, Godwin Ablodey, Hamza Mohammed, Baba Adamu Amando, Prince Adu Poku, Kwadwo Poku Mahala, Kwadwo Poku Jnr, William Tierro, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour General, Daniel Yeboah Argentina, Shilla Alhassan, Shilla Illiasu, Michael Ofosu Appiah Cid, Isaac Boakye, Nii Odartey Lamptey, Louis Agyemang, Saint Eric Nii Baah, Lawrence Adjei, Nana Frimpong, Isaac Vorsah, Costance Mantey, Kwabena Dodje, Isaac Owusu Ninja, Mark Fish (Ghana), Sammy Kuffour, Joe Sam, Baffour Gyan, Coach E.K Afranie

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 GK Isaac Amoako
2 DF Bruoma Semake
4 MF Stephen Oduro
5 DF Michael Ofosu-Appiah
6 DF Henry Ohene Brenya
8 MF Daniel Nii Adjei
9 FW Edward Affum
10 FW Ahmed Toure
11 FW Samad Oppong
13 FW Abdul H-Ganiyu Yahaya
15 FW David Ofei
16 GK Abdoulaye Soulama
17 FW Wadudu Ozoro
No. Position Player
18 DF Prince Anokye
19 MF Fred Brenyah
20 FW Alex Asamoah
22 DF Louis Quainoo
23 GK George Arthur
24 DF Omar Gariba
25 DF Gideon Baah
26 MF Albert Bruce
27 DF Prince Boateng
28 FW Seidu Traore
30 GK Rashid Seidu
37 MF Afranie Yeboah

Youth Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
GK Ekow Ampiah
GK George Cudjoe
GK Habib Mohamed
DF Mohamed Abdullah
DF John Nana Acheampong
DF Isaac Anderson
DF Arhin Asamoah
DF Kwame Attraam
DF Ahmed Nyame
MF Atto Agrey
MF Nuru Ahmed
MF Abdul Ganiyu Haruna
No. Position Player
MF Abou Alhassan
MF Sam Arthur
MF Godfred Impraim
MF Adusei Poku
MF Owusu Poku
MF Eric Opoku
MF David Sarkodie
FW Joseph Ababio
FW John Cudjoe
FW Ganiyu Halidu
FW Kwesi Owusu

Personal

Chairman

Director of Communications

Director of Finance & Administration

Director of Operations

Dirictor Of Legal Affairs

Team Manager

Head Coach

Assistant Coache's

Goalkeeper Coach

Fitness Coach

Specialist Medical Doctor

Physiotherapist

Physical Trainer

Masseur

Former Officials

Distinguished soccer leaders

  • Mr. Achulo
  • Mr. E.K. Adu
  • Mr. George Aduse-Poku (aka Georgido)
  • Mr. Aboagye Agyei
  • Mr. John Agyekum Kufour (Former President of Ghana)
  • 'Uncle' John Aidoo
  • Mr. J.D. Amoah
  • Mr. George Amoako
  • Mr. Hope Anderson Agbolosoo
  • Mr. Frank Apeagyei
  • Mr. S.S. Appiah
  • Mr. L.Y. Asamoah
  • Nana Baffour Awuah V (the late Bantamahene)
  • Professor S.K. Awuah
  • Dr. J.K. Brobbey-Kyei
  • Mr. Charles de Graft Dickson
  • Dr. Kofi Dzane-Selby
  • Mr. B.K. Edusei
  • Teacher Frimpong
  • Mr. Yaw Frimpong (alias YF)
  • Mr. Issam John Moukarzel
  • Dr. J.K Kankam
  • Nana Darko Kufour
  • Mr. Daniel Kyei
  • Mr. Kyenkyehene
  • Mr. S.K. Mainoo
  • Mr. Assad Mallah
  • Nana Kwaku Mensah
  • Mr. Simms Kofi Mensah
  • Mr. F.D. Nsiah-Asare (aka Nana Gyamaning Asare), (the late chief of Kumasi, Asafo)
  • Mr. P.V. Obeng
  • Mr. D.K. Ofori Nuako (alias Pao)
  • Oheneba Nana Osei Yaw
  • Nana Yaw Owusu
  • Mr. Albert Owusu-Ansah
  • Mr. Ernest Yaw Bawuah
  • Mr. Osei Yaw Akoto
  • Major Yaw Larsen
  • Nana Akosa Yiadom

Management or Board of Directors

  • Mr. Nana Baffour Akoto
  • Mr. Krobo Edusei (a Minister of State in the First Republic Government of Ghana)
  • Mrs. Mary Edusei (née Mary Akuamoah)
  • Mr. John Agyekum Kuffour (Former President of Ghana)
  • Mr. B.M. Kufour
  • Mr. Martin Appiah-Danquah
  • Mr. Peter Mainoo-Appiah
  • Mr. Desmond
  • Mr. Simone Naja David
  • Mr. Osei Kwame (aka 'Despite')
  • Mr. Kwabena Kesse (aka 'Kessben')
  • Mr. Kennedy Adjapong (aka 'Kenpong')

Head Coaches

  • J.E. Adabie
  • Herbert Addo
  • E.K. Afranie
  • E.J. Aggrey-Fynn
  • Oti Akenteng
  • Amonoo-Neizer
  • Sam Arday
  • Augustine Omono Asamoah
  • Asebi Boakye
  • Isaac Opeele Boateng
  • Morris Cooreman
  • A.K. Edusei
  • Josef Ember

Other Personnel

References

External links