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"Fabu Fila Launched"
Posted 18th April 2008
After days of planning, negotiations and test runs, the much talked about and awaited text message service to provide exclusive news to subscribers has been duly launched and running.
At a short and impressive ceremony at the Golden Tulip Kumasi City, the chairman of the management team of Kumasi Asante Kotoko F/C, Sylvester Asare Owusu launched the value added service.
He described the product as and opportunity for supporters to make meaningful contributions to the club whilst they also get the chance to receive insider information directly delivered to them through their mobile phones.
"It is our determination and hope as management to put the money that would accrue from the service to good use for the benefit of the club," he said.
On their part, the content developers, Mobile Content Limited, described their partnership with Kotoko as a good and important one that they will like to hold on to for a very long time"
Explaining further, the programmes officer of Mobile Content Ltd, William Yeboah announced that all that one had to do was to text the slogan, FABU, to the short code 1935 on all networks in Ghana to subscribe.
Present at the function was the members of the management team, former management members, players, circle leaders, supporters and good representation of the media.
The "Dancing Prophet" Seth Frimpong, entertained the gathering to some of his tracks, whilst a brass band ensemble played at the other end.
Jerry Afriyie and Boakye-Agyeman report that supporters of Kumasi Asante Kotoko have hailed the club’s partnership with Mobile content.Com Limited which will see sports fans enjoying sms services on activities of Ghana’s greatest club, Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
Many Kotoko supporters who have been talking to the Kotoko Express as well as several local radio stations believe the innovation by the management of Asante Kotoko should be an answer to those who doubt that Asante Kotoko are really the pace-setters and innovators of everything big in Ghana soccer.
At the Baba Yara Sports Stadium last Sunday, the Kotoko Express observed that several spectators at the stadium were occasionally not watching the Kotoko Ashantigold SWAG Cup match but were fidgeting with their phones.
It was later explained that these people were enjoying the text message service for the first time during a live football match in Ghana.
A section of the supporters at the Score board end of the field were occasionally shouting and it was at any point that they received a message informing them of the progress of the game and incidents happening.
In fact they were teasing the Ashantigold supporters as well as the supporters of other clubs who had joined hands to support Ashgold with the innovation, that they should respect the only Soccer University in Ghana.
An hour before the start of the match, messages were sent from 1935 to all subscribers giving them the Kotoko starting line up. Those who had not subscribed as at the time the match was being played were seen busily consulting others to show them how to do it as they would not want to be left behind.
A great ceremony had taken place on Saturday at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Kumasi where the “Fabu filla” was launched at an impressive ceremony where Kotoko management and service providers Mobile Content.Com Limited explained the marriage between the two institutions.
Whiles Kotoko were represented by the clubs management, technical team, players and supporters, Mobile Content.Com were represented by the Chief Executive Officer John Torto, General Manager Rosemary Asiedu and Brands Manager William Yeboah.
Two management members Chairman Sylvester Asare-Owusu and Communications Director Kwame Baah-Nuakoh ceased the opportunity to invite all well meaning supporters of the club to join the ‘Fabu Fila’ train adding that it is only the beginning of good things to come as Kotoko will also launch its monthly magazine soon.
Sylvester said proceeds generated from the venture will go strait into the club’s special development fund and that will be the seed money to start several projects for Kotoko soon.
He explained that the time is past when Kotoko relied on gate proceeds only for development and advised that this is the right time for the about two thirds of Ghanaians and even foreigners who have Kotoko at heart to make their contributions in the great Club.
The service providers, MobileContents.Com were very happy with the deal and their officials announced that in Kotoko, they have found a willing and great partner who can look into the future with great hopes.
The sea of media people from all over Ghana led by SWAG President Ackah Anthony as well as former management members were seen and heard applauding the venture and commended Kotoko for taking football club management to another level.
Painstaking investigation by your authoritative Kotoko Express has revealed that Kotoko is only the second club in Africa to sign-up to this kind of service. The only other club that enjoys a similar service is CAF Africa club of the century Nadi Al Ahly of Egypt.
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