Ghanaian champions, Kumasi Asante Kotoko SC, appear to be battling to stay afloat managerially following the seeming controversy surrounding the reported appointment of Opoku Nti as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the club.
Even though the Board of Directors has stated that Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II did not specifically mention that Opoku Nti had been appointed interim CEO of the club, the former international is now directing the administrative aspect of the club from the secretariat with full support from the accountant, Charles Opoku.
Speaking to the Graphic Sports yesterday, the spokesman of the board, Mr Jerry Asare, said it was surprising the way a section of the media kept describing Opoku Nti as interim CEO when, in fact, Otumfuo had not given any directive to that effect.
He said the former Kotoko and Black Stars midfielder was continuing the work he was doing at the secretariat, as directed by His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Mr Asare said the board would be meeting the Asantehene possibly next week and it was important that all parties remained quiet until Otumfuo spoke.
That notwithstanding, Mr Asare said the board was working in concert with Opoku Nti and the accountant of the cub to get the team going.
Indeed, the former international has been at the forefront of Kotoko�s recruitment of new players and other day-to-day administrative work at the secretariat located at the suburb of Odeneho Wades.
Opoku Nti, who was the special assistant to the immediate past executive chairman, Dr K.K. Sarpong, has himself indicated that when he, the accountant, and coach Didi Dramani met Otumfuo at Manhyia Palace last Tuesday, the Ashantehene only told them to go and continue with their work in the club.
According to him, nowhere did Otumfuo make specific mention of chief executive officer.
But many are asking how Opoku Nti can continue to perform the role of special assistant to a man who has relinquished his position.
Besides, the Manyhia Palace has not come out officially to deny the reported appointment of Opoku Nti as acting CEO.
Veteran sports journalist, Kwabena Yeboah, speaking in Kumasi yesterday on Angel FM, where he is currently a regular panellist on the station�s sports programmes, said there was no ambiguity about the position of Opoku Nti in the management of Kotoko now.
�It is clear that he (Opoku Nti) is the head of the three-man committee in charge of the day-to-day administration of the club.
�In that case the role of the board is purely advisory,� Mr Yeboah said, while expressing confidence in Opoku Nti to deliver.
Mr Yeboah also touched on an audit investigations currently underway in the club and said it would be in the interest of Dr Sarpong and Kotoko at large.
He explained that the audit would reveal once and for all whether monies were misappropriated during Dr Sarpong�s administration or not and, thus, clear the way for a better Kotoko.
Before the audit, he argued, it would be inappropriate for anyone to accuse the former executive chairman of any wrongdoing.
Close watchers of the Ghanaian champions believe the fact that Otumfuo asked Opoku Nti to head the three-man team to manage the secretariat implied he was playing the role of acting CEO.
As two of the three-man team get down to work, one of them, coach Didi Dramani, has arrived in England for a 10-day refresher course at Manchester City.
The new administrators of the Porcupine Warriors have also cancelled the planned Sunderland trip initiated by Dr Sarpong.
They want to take on a greater degree of responsibility for the club�s ability to meet its financial obligations at recruiting quality players for the next season.
Kotoko have pencilled down seven quality players for recruitment this season and the board, in conjunction with Opoku Nti, is working hard towards getting them to get a team well-oiled for the local and continental competitions.
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