Yamoah re-joins Kotoko at last

As Abanga Swerves Hearts for Kotoko

7th July 2007

Correspondent:  Thomas Boakye-Agyeman

Asante Kotoko fast winger George Yamoah who has been at war with the club following differences over a new contract finally re-joined his colleagues at the Ridge Park Training grounds of Asante Kotoko last Wednesday. The management of Asante Kotoko and Yamoah has been at the negotiating table after Yamoah was made to stay away from the club’s training grounds following his refusal to agree to new a contract. Management later reached an agreement with Yamoah to start training but that did not materialize as he demanded to be paid monies due him before starting training. The Kotoko technical team and the Fans eagerly awaited the return of Yamoah especially after his colleague Michael Fosu Appiah who previously adopted the same position finally started training a few weeks ago.

But after months of staying away from the club’s training grounds, Yamoah was finally driven to the Kotoko training grounds thirty minutes before the start of the training session. Though most of his colleagues were shocked to see him at the training grounds, the players and the supporters seemed very happy of his return as some of them chanted names like “Rebel leader, One man thousand,Armani,the bad boy, the baddest,nkoraabonehene” among others, all in reference to George Yamoah.

He greeted those around and got ready for the days activity. Finally after a brief prayer, the player headed towards Coach Bashir Hayford after he arrived and greeted him. The coach stretched his hands out to the player who responded with a smile. Bash seemed happy for him and after a brief chat with Yamoah welcomed him again before giving him the go ahead to join his colleagues.

He trained with his colleagues for the nearly two hour period that the session lasted. Though he has been absent from training for several months, he did not lack anything especially stamina but later told the Kotoko Express that he was happy no ball work was done. He said he has been training on his own all these while and is very strong to reclaim his spot in the first team but added that a few days at training will get him ready to rub shoulders with his colleagues when it comes to kicking the ball.

“I am happy to be here again but one thing is clear to me for now-that I should train well and break into the first team which I believe with the help of God I am capable of. competition is keen now and I followed the progress of the team in the Top 4 and nobody needs to convince me I should work hard, I will do that and contribute my part to the club’s chase of honours come next season”,Yamoah said.

In another development, Kofi Abanga, the player who has been at the centre of a fierce struggle between Asante Kotoko and bitterest rivals Hearts of Oak is finally in the camp of the Porcupine Warriors. The player in fact trained with the Asante Kotoko team on Wednesday afternoon and now looks set to having a great time with Ghana’s most populous club in the coming season.Abanga was introduced to Coach Bashir Hayford at the Ridge Park training grounds by liaison officer Edmund Ackah.His smallish nature and unknown face made it difficult for the spectators to know who he was but word went round soon that Abanga was training with Kotoko and it was with delight as some of the supporters went close the pitch to catch a glimpse at “the ghost Abanga”,who have been talked of so much but very little is known of.

A quick chat with the player revealed he has finally signed for Kotoko, something he sees as a dream come true. He pleaded to speak very little but promised his performance in the coming years should convince those who doubted him as well as those who were angry over the noise being made for his signature.