Let’s not press the self-destruct botton!

26th August 2007

Correspondent: Jerome Otchere

All the issues that cropped up during the week on the local football scene are dying down. With respect to Kotoko the issues that caught one’s attention were Manhyia’s call on management to abandon the Kofi Abanga issue, the dissolution of the Welfare Committee and termination of Liaison Officer Edmund Ackah’s appointment.

One incident which shocked many football enthusiasts particularly Kotoko supporters was the death threats issued to Operations Director Jerry Asare. Of course there was an interesting reaction to my article: “Spare Kotoko the cheap talk” by Happy FM’s Odiasempa Kwame Oware who said on Air that I disrespected him by calling him ‘Elder’.

I did not listen to Happy FM’s late afternoon sports news last Friday. However I have been informed that Odiasempa claimed that I came begging for Happy FM’s intervention when the Kotoko Express wanted to transfer me to Kumasi. I will proceed to the substantive issue but let me first respond to this allegation by the lively sports presenter.

I do not disrespect Odiasempa. Neither do I hate Osei Assibey nor Swanzy Essuman. The entire sports crew at Happy FM is doing a fantastic work for Ghanaian sports fans. This is my candid opinion.  Inspite of that, it is undisputed that the sports crew at Happy FM sometimes leaves their massive listeners to question their credibility as a result of certain stories they carry. That is exactly what I did last Friday after the station had earlier reported that division had eaten deep into Kotoko’s management.

I had spoken to the five management members to ascertain whether they were divided as being reported. None of the management members in my interviews gave me the impression that the Happy FM story was true. On that basis, what could I have done apart from contesting the report carried by the Best Sports Station as well as the comments passed by some their guests?

My reference to Osei Assibey and Odiasempa as ‘Senior and Elder’ was only to show respect and not contempt. I dare say however that the allegation that I came seeking the intervention of the station when being transferred to Kumasi is not alone fallacious but also derisive. We shouldn’t tell such destructive lies about people. Our local football is in chaos because of the lack of truth and indeed our failure to do things constructively.

It is on that premise that I address my Porcupine friends. Since management relieved Edmund Ackah of his position as Liaison Officer, besides dissolving the club’s Welfare Committee, various comments have been passed by the former Liaison Officer. Many of us have described his outbursts as unacceptable. It is good that he has resolved not to keep quiet.

This is not an attempt to spite Edmund Ackah but the truth is that we will destroy ourselves if we continue to level spurious allegations against each other. Some of us are young in Kotoko. Yet we are not blind about what is progressive. Despite the fact that management has encountered problems since October 2006, there is strong evidence to the effect that they can make Kotoko successful.

The management team was once divided. That is a fact. Since coming together though they have made and continue to make significant progress. Of course, the five people have not gotten everything right. As a group of people with distinguished yet varying educational, social and business backgrounds, they simply can’t work without expressing different opinions or disagreeing on issues. Disagreements, difficulties and complex problems will arise but when they do, we should all endeavour to handle things as a family committed to a course.

In the past and even now, Kotoko continue to be battered too badly by its so-called die-hard supporters. With this in mind the question I often ask myself is: are we not our own enemies? How would a genuine Kotoko follower think of murdering his management member? Has our hatred for our management members gotten to that level? We have to be careful here. If some of us can think of committing murder because of dissenting opinions on Kotoko issues, then who are our perceive enemies?

We do not know who threatened to kill Jerry Asare. The man however suspects that they could be Kotoko loyalists. The question that comes to mind is: how could we achieve the peace, love and unity we so dearly need to be successful if we threaten to kill our own people? We shouldn’t destroy ourselves. We must not create conditions for our enemies to rejoice.

Why fight ourselves when nobody is fighting us. For me many good things have happened in Kotoko since the 2006/2007 season ended. Management has been progressing. The recruitment exercise has been largely successful. The entire pre-season programme has gone well. We have good players. A considerable number of trial matches have been played in and outside the country. Coach Bashir Hayford recently submitted names of 40 players for next season.

These are positive developments that must engage our attention. Not the counter-productive accusations, arguments and death threats. We should not do things that will breed hostility and total destruction. The very things that will set us apart must be shunned. We shouldn’t destroy ourselves. Self-destruction will only ruin the structures being laid for our future development. Let’s reflect on these thoughts.