Ghana Football
Jerome Otchere writes: Kotoko’s new jersey oozes identity

Unless King Faisal’s owner, Alhaji Karim Grunsah’s comment on Asante Kotoko’s 2022/23 season’s jersey, which has a watermark image of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is echoing concerns from the hallowed Manhyia Palace, it should be dismissed. Alhaji Grunsah essentially suggested that, imprinting the club’s owner and life patron’s picture on its jersey amounts to a sacrilege.
Alhaji Grunsah’s views and other radio and social media remarks I’ve seen are interesting. The occupant of the treasured Golden Stool, at any time, is revered. We must first note that. The Ashanti Kingdom has kept its chieftainship and its associated traditions inviolable for over 300 centuries. Some of us – whether Kotoko fans or not; whether or not we are Ashantis would always uphold the well-preserved customs of the Asanteman, which is headed by the Great King, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
I believe Alhaji Grunsah perhaps wanted to do same. What he however overlooked is Kotoko’s inalienable association with the King, who in principle is Asante Kotoko. In one of his wise admonitions to the club’s Board in August 2013, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II stated: “Asante Kotoko is me. When you touch Asante Kotoko, it’s me you’re touching” he counseled the then Lawyer, Paul Adu Gyamfi-led Board at their inauguration.
Respectfully so, if the Asantehene is Asante Kotoko, why can’t the club have his iconic image on its jersey? What’s the desecration? What’s the taboo particularly when it’s his own esteemed property that’s employing remarkable imaginative ways not only to eulogise him but also appreciate his august presence and authority over the club? The Asantehene has total, immutable right to anything Asante Kotoko.
His image has historically been used on various paraphernalia of Kotoko – including the team bus, billboards, magazines, adverts, etc. I recall how fans mobbed club agents when a Kotoko key holder was released 10 years ago with Nana’s image nicely cast on it. For me, the new jersey design is a matter of heritage. It’s about identity. It’s the pride, prestige and origins of Kotoko. We must be proud of our origins.
The NYA-Management for three seasons now has stayed on an apt course to place Asanteman, its colours and identity well within in Kotoko through creative ways. “Otumfuo’s image on Kotoko’s jersey is a perfect blend of heritage and modernisation” says University of Ghana, Museums and Heritage Studies student, Kwame Yeboah.
“The Porcupine, which’s Kotoko’s emblem was adopted by Asantehene, Nana Kofi Osei Tutu in 1701. Then in 1935, the emblem was given to the club by the Asantehene, Nana Sir Agyeman Prempeh as it represented Asanteman’s identity” he explains. In football, it’s alright for a jersey design to stir controversy. It has to be said again, that, Otumfuo’s image on Kotoko’s jersey is excellent. It’s a stony affirmation of Kotoko’s identity.
It depicts the greatness of the club’s ancestries. It speaks to Kotoko’s heritage and uniqueness. No football club in Ghana has rich historical ties with the Asantehene. Generations unborn would be told of it. The design imbibes Nana’s prominence and honourability into the team. It’s a positive artistic work we must adore.
Ghana Football
AFCON 2023 Qualifiers: Jojo Wollacott suffers injury during Black Stars training ahead of Angola clash

On Tuesday evening, Ghana goalkeeper Jojo Wollacott suffered a new injury during a Black Stars training session in Kumasi.
Wollacott was injured during training at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium when a goalpost fell on him.
The 26-year-old goalkeeper, who recently recovered from a finger injury that kept him out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, was helped to his feet before limping off the pitch.
Wollacott will have a scan to determine the extent of his injury before the Angola doubleheader.
The first leg will take place on March 23 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, with the second leg scheduled for March 27 in Luanda.
Ghana is currently tied for first place in Group E, with four points earned from their previous two matches, which included a 3-0 win over Madagascar and a 1-1 draw with the Central African Republic in June of last year.
Ghana Football
Jerome Otchere’s Take: Why Hughton impressed me

Black Stars coach Chris Hughton lived up to expectation at the press conference in Kumasi, which officially unveiled him to the Ghanaian. Some have argued that for a coach of his make, he wouldn’t underperform at a press event. I agree with that.
For any candid review, too, Chris Hughton’s responses to questions, his depth of knowledge and composure wouldn’t also escape attention. I believe he’s the coach Ghana should’ve had a year back but there’s no need elaborating on that point.
I take a leaf from a decent answer Hughton gave on the issue of interference in selection to say, we must leave the past behind and focus on the future. “All I can say is, I am the new head coach. Anything you speak of before my time here is very much something you’re bringing up. It’s in the past,” said Chris Hughton.
An AFCON qualifier awaits us on Thursday against Angola. Hughton has already named his squad. What lies ahead is what presently matters. Thus, in our forward march, Hughton made modest promises.
“I will be spending more time in Ghana. I will be watching more games. I am constantly being made aware of players who are doing well. I’ll be paying more attention to [GPL] games because it is important that we have a strong national league” he said.
“No coach can sit here and guarantee a trophy buy what I can guarantee is a strong team. We want to see a winning team”. In all, relevant questions were asked, and Hughton answered them well like the one concerning his contract. It’s been argued that discussions on his contract are needless, but that position is flawed.
When we’ve not kept a coach for long in recent years, there’s every need to ask what Hughton makes of his 21-month contract. “I have to get the right balance of what’s short-term, what’s medium term, and what’s long term. At this moment, always the most important is short-term. Winning football matches that’ll get you into a better position to when the other games come around.
“The medium term of course is making sure that you all qualify and do well in the competition itself. The longer term, of course, is about developing players and bringing players through the system and that takes time. There’s no doubt, as a team that played in the World Cup with the youngest team, we’ve to have an eye on development.
“And development can take time and sometimes this is where you need that little bit of patience from the likes of yourself, the journalists, the supporters” said Hughton. “So, the length of my contact is probably the correct length”.
That enlightened answer on his contract is why Hughton impressed me. We’ve been on this short-term Black Stars coaching business. The responses you get from people you expect to know better, is as if you’re an enemy of state who hates progress. Hughton, by that informed response and the others he gave showed why we must support him.
Source: Jeromeotchere.com
Ghana Football
AFCON 2023 Qualifiers: Koln winger Kingsley Schindler replaces injured Tariq Lamptey

Black Stars coach Chris Hughton has called up German-born Ghanaian winger Kingsley Schindler for the game against Angola.
Tariq Lamptey, who is out with an injury, was replaced by the 29-year-old.
The Koln winger is making his first national team appearance and could make his debut against Angola on Thursday.
This season, the former Holstein Kiel winger has been consistent for FC Koln, appearing in 20 Bundesliga games.
Schindler arrived in Ghana on Monday and began training with the rest of the team as preparations for the game in Kumasi began.
Meanwhile, seventeen players arrived at camp, with the remainder of the team expected to arrive today before the squad departs for Kumasi on Tuesday.
Abdul Manaf Nurudeen, Joseph Wollacott, Alexander Djiku, Denis Odoi, Kingsley Schindler, Patrick Kpozo, Daniel Amartey, Joseph Aidoo, Andre Ayew, Joseph Painstil, Ransford Yeboah, Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo, Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Salisu, Majeed Ashimeru and Edmund Addo were the players in camp.
Source: ghanasoccernet.com
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