Rahman Osman examines the managerial circus at Asante Kotoko and says that the club’s problems will continue because they are set to repeat its mistakes.
While the whole nation was caught in the frenzy surrounding Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ video premiere, Kotoko tried hard to dominate the sporting news in Ghana. Rumors had been circulating and they were all speaking of the relieving of Samuel Opoku Nti from his general manager position and appointment of Dr Kwaku Frimpong as the new General Manager. Frequent changes in Kotoko’s management personnel are not new but this rumor was one of a kind. The difference here is that the board which can be called the General Manager’s “bosses” did not take this decision. The call to send Opoku Nti out of the door came from the club’s patron and owner, Otumfour Osei Tutu II.
Otumfour Osei Tutu Who will the new General Manager report to? Manhyia or the Board? One problem which afflicted the current General Manager and board was a very interesting one. Manhyia appointed the General Manager and then appointed the Board to oversee the activities of the General Manager. The Board had the power to replace the General Manager but that would have been seen as disrespect to Manhyia who appointed Opoku Nti. So they had to compromise and work with him even though he was not their favourite. This was evident when they initially rejected any attempt by Opoku Nti to form his management team. Another evidence of the hierarchical failure was seen in the reported Kuban kits fiasco. The GM looked to have agreed to a kit sponsorship with the Asian kit-making company only for the deal to collapse when the Board bypassed the GM and the agent brokering the deal to speak directly with the parent company. We have seen all the problems that saddled the Opoku Nti administration all because he was not appointed by the board and it seems the same scenario might play out really soon. What are the chances of the new general manager succeeding if he is chosen by Manhyia and not the board? This is a classic case of making an octogenarian an heir to dead octogenarian. You have done nothing new. A new funeral has only been postponed.
