Digital February 26, 2020

DAILYHERITAGE.COM.GH
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020
If you can’t
play for Kotoko
again, tell me
• Kwame Kyei to players
THE EXECUTIVE
Board chairman of
Asante Kotoko has
asked players who are
not prepared to play
for the club to voice it out.
Dr Kwame Kyei threw the challenge
at an emergency meeting
which became necessary following
the team’s clash with Asokwa Deportivo
in the MTN FA Cup
Round of 64 on Sunday in which
Kotoko disappointingly lost 2-1.
At the said meeting yesterday,
Dr Kyei fumed with anger as he
asked players to tell him if they
could not play for the Porcupine
Warriors.
”If you know you can’t play for
Kotoko again, tell me,” Dr. Kyei
asked, according to a report received
from Kumasi.
Additional information has revealed
that the club’s board chairman
has told players that they will
be sacked if they fail to perform.
• Executive Chairman of
Asante Kotoko, Kwame Kyei
Cobbina explains why he
disappears in games
KF TIRANA player Winful Cobbina
has explained why he sometimes
disappear in games. He
gave the explanation after popping
up with a remarkable assist
in a 2-1 win against Kukesi last
Friday.
Cobbina started the match
against Kukesi brightly but faded
midway through the encounter
before coming up with a fantastic
assist.
The former Hearts of Oak
ace conjured a magic in the 84th
minute to provide a Ronaldinholike
assist for Idriz Batha to tap
into an empty net during the top
of table clash against Kukesi.
“It's the second season here
and I'm adjusted to the environment,
the people and the system.
So I'm in better shape. We are
convincingly back as a team and
• Winful Cobbina
not without merit leading the
championship.
“Sometimes it's a game plan, a
tactic. I have to rest and then
"boom". My disappearance is for
energy recovery. Would you leave
me alone for 70 minutes? You
have to train with us to understand.
It's not that I'm tired, but
we have to adapt to the game and
hit the opponent at the right
time.”
"Favourites in attack? Both are
good players. Mucci is young and
talented, Michael has experience.
It is important that the players'
abilities go to the benefit of the
team. Both did their part. I can't
choose who to play with, we're all
a team,” Cobbina said.
Cobbina has made 20 league
appearances, contributing four
goals and three assists.
Kurt spoke in a context
• Asante Twum replies George
Afriyie over ‘enemies letter’
SPOKESPERSON FOR the
Ghana Football Association, Henry
Asante Twum, has reacted to a
statement issued by defeated GFA
presidential aspirant George Afriyie
over some comments made by
GFA President Kurt Okraku on
Joy FM.
Reacting to claims that he was
running a ‘family and friends’ organization,
Okraku remarked that
“no one wins an election and work
with his enemies”.
The comment did not
go down well with some
figures in the football circles
and as such have subjected
him to a series of
verbal attacks.
The latest of such attacks
is from Afriyie, who
in a statement issued on
Tuesday, accused the
GFA boss of being intolerant
of opposing views.
But in his first interview
since being handed
the position of Director
of Communications for
the GFA, Henry Asante
Twum said he was
shocked by the reaction
to the rather harmless
comments by his boss.
Asante Twum said the
issue was being overstretched
and being taken
•Henry Asante Twum
out of context.
He said considering the appointments
he has done so far,
Okraku has demonstrated tolerance
and willingness to work with people
from opposing sides.
“The response by the FA president
was not in direct reference to
any individual. I think the issue is
being over-stretched. Let’s look at
the appointments that have come
up in the last few months and juxtapose
it [sic] to what the FA president
said. You may think the word
enemy is not the best but I’m not
sure that’s exactly what he wanted
to say.
“I think this administration has
been very good in putting certain
people on some of the committees.
For instance, Liberty Professionals,
before the elections, were 100% behind
George Afriyie but today the
MD of Liberty is serving on two
committees. Kotoko declared their
100% support for George Afriyie
but today George Amoako is the
chairman of the Black Stars Management
Committee…”.
Asante Twum also justified the
appointments of coach Karim Zito
and CK Akonnor, who are
said to have close ties with
Okraku.
“Karim Zito, before Kurt
Okraku’s appointment, was
Black Starlets coach so his
current position is an elevation.
As far back as 19999 he
was coaching Kwaebibrem.
He has coached both Hearts
and Kotoko and has one of
the richest CV’s in Ghana
[football].
“Before Kurt came, CK
Akonnor was an assistant
coach and I’m not sure it’s
Kurt who gave him that position.
There is a caveat on the
appointment of a foreign
coach. For continuity, consistency
and progression sake
we have to go for CK,” he
said.