Management refutes match-fixing allegation

By: Jerome Otchere

Posted: 12th June 2008

Chairman Sylvester Asare Owusu and Director of Operations Jerry Asare have strongly rebutted arguments in certain quarters that Kumasi Asante Kotoko decided to ‘give away’ last Wednesday Onetouch Premier League match against Sekondi Hasaacas at the Essipong Stadium in a move to help the Western Regional club avoid relegation.

Kotoko took a 2-0 lead through Kwadwo Poku in the 32nd and 47th minute respectively. However, the Giants of the West recovered beautifully to cancel the two goals in the 81st and 84th minutes through Isaac Donkor and Richard Ocran respectively.

The two quick goals scored in less than five minutes sparked heated arguments among Kotoko supporters most of who contended that after vowing to deepen the woes of Hasaacas, the Porcupine Warriors eventually softened their position and gave the home team some ‘reprieve’.

The angry Kotoko supporters lambasted the players for their perceived connivance and laxity. Wednesday’s match was full of suspense and intense action.

Hasaacas played a determined game and much like Kotoko, they squandered too many chances. 

Chairman Sylvester Asare Owusu speaking in a post-match interview rejected claims by some supporters that the match was fixed.

“That is not true. It is completely false. Our approach to the game was constructive. We squandered many chances but Kwadwo Poku scored two beautiful goals. We are all not satisfied that the match ended in a draw but people should not say we gave the game to Hasaacas. I repeat that it is totally false,” he said.

Jerry Asare who was on the bench during the match was visibly upset at the end of the match. His angst was however justified. “We did not give this game away. How could we do that?  We approached the game well but in the end we could not win. The referee and her assistant were not fair. Their performance was poor. Everybody saw it. This really affected the team’s psyche” he argued.

Coach Johnson Smith’s disappointment with the outcome of the match was not too noticeably but his arguments in a post match interview revealed how bad he also felt.

“The problem was with the finishing. Although we scored twice, our finishing was poor. That is what saved Hasaacas. A draw is not the result we anticipated” he stated.

Continuing further, Coach Johnson Smith buttressed Jerry Asare’s position.  “Something might have gone wrong with the mindset of the team especially when most of the referee’s decision went against them”.

“The team squandered too many chances. They also had their minds on the referee. That is what cost us” said Smith who ended with a piece of advice for all Kotoko supporters.

“We have to move on. There are other matches to be played and won. It is clear our supporters were not happy. I was equally disappointed with Hasaacas’ goals but now the game is over. We have to look ahead”.

“The team played well. Kwadwo Poku scored two goals and I am happy that he has been showing consistency. Let’s come together to win the remaining matches”.

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Kenneth Goode, Sunyani.
Let us look at the way forward. Our next match is a difficult one so lets not loose track but focus heard. Fabu, the best.

Ebenezer Appiah, Accra
I personally think management should not think of this allegation but rather concentrate on Sunday's match against ash gold

Nana Dr. Ampofo- Cape Coast
We shall never forgive management if we fail to win the 2008 League Cup. I ran away from my work place last Wednesday and travelled from cape coast Takoradi to offer my piece of support to my idol Club Kumasi Asante Kotoko. I had anticipated a good show from Kotoko although I thought Hasmal at their own backyard would not be an easy prey. Hasaacas was one of the Teams that prevented Kotoko from winning last year's Cup at a time all thought we had already won the League. That painful loss to them at Sunyani is widely in memory. Yes we beat them in the first round at the Baba Yara Stadium but the greatest revenge we could have had from them was to have beaten them well on Wednesday ostensibly to help them go to relegation. Did I see this in our play? In fact I was very disappointed right from the Referee's whistle for the commencement of the game when our Team showed no seriousness in their play. Thanks to Mark Sekyere. The guy is really good. He played his heart out for Kotoko and may God bless him.
I don't know whether I should support the motion that the match was fixed because I am confused. If the match was indeed fixed then I must say the brain behind it is really a "professional in Match Fixing". He must have done it excellently. I don't want to believe that we gave it soft to Hasmal but I would urge the Management Team to conduct a serious investigation into the matter. It is interesting to ask the following questions but permit me to ask anyway. Perhaps they can be of help to us all for a better Kotoko tomorrow.
Q1. Why did Kuffour fail to score on a day he had about ten(10) good scoring chances? Is he that bad when it comes to goal scoring? We know Kuffour better than what he did on Wednesday. I was disappointed by him.
Q2. What did Coach Smith plant at the touch line somewhere in the second half and why did he call Kuffour a few minutes after that? What did he tell him?
Q3. Why did Jerry Asare exchange words violently with Sarfo Gyamfi? Why did he ask the Police to send him away?
Q4. Why was Kwadwo Poku substituted on a day he was playing very well and showed no sign of fatigue? Was it to prevent him from scoring additional goals?
Q5. Nii Adjei was was very good on the day. Why was he changed at a time we were under intense pressure from Hasmal? The result? We conceded a goal shortly after this.
Q6. Why was Osei Kuffour allowed to play for the full play time? Was he given a responsibility to ensure that the game ended in a draw?
Q7. Why did the Referee start to take strange decisions in the last ten minutes of the game? The last move of Kotoko- was it really an offside?
Although readers will have different views about these questions, I suppose those who can, do their own investigations with the above guiding questions. We have six matches to go and I pray the team to attach seriousness to all matches. Let us play better than we did against Hasmal in order to win convincingly the 2008 League Cup. We badly need it and we shall never forgive management, the technical team and the playing body should the cup be lifted by another team. We pray for you always and may God help us to win.

Kwabena Boateng, Madina Akatsi Abor.
I wish to advice fantablous supporters of Kumasi Asante Kotoko to deal kindly with the players, We should all note that it is not easy winning away matches, we should also not forget that the team has played matches more than any club in Ghana this season. what we want at the end of the season is the Onetouch premier league trophy . FINISH HARD FABULOUS BOYS, FOR ITS NOT OVER UNTIL ITS OVER.

Nii Commey. Meredian University College. Accra.
I may have agreed with some of my friends who think the match was fixed if I did not watch the match. But I got the opportunity to watch the it and saw how the giant of the west were playing, they played as if the match was a world cup finals with determination and anger so it was not something like my friends are saying it was a different ball game all together. We knew the doos are in a relegation zone so there is no way they will allow themselves to loose that match so I think we should rather thank God for drawing this game rather than complaining