Kumasi Asante Kotoko board chairman, Mr P.V. Obeng, has debunked the notion in some quarters that the board has not been effective since its appointment. He said the board needed some time to get acquainted with the situation on the ground in order to prepare for the task entrusted to it by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

Mr Obeng was speaking in an interview with the Graphic Sports last Friday in Tema. He said following its appointment, the board decided to give the Kotoko management two months to continue with its programme so as not to cause any dislocation. Mr Obeng disclosed that the board has met four times since being sworn into office and said some long-term plans have been spelt out for the future direction of the club.

In this connection, four sub-committees to be chaired by board members have been set up to deal with specific functions that will fall under the broad administrative guidelines for the club. They are the Ticketing Committee, Finance Committee, Technical Committee and External Relations Committee.

The Ticketing Committee will deal with the printing of tickets for matches and gate proceeds; the Finance Committee will deal with issues relating to remuneration, expenditure and sponsorship; the Technical Committee will handle the recruitment of players, their development, transfer and sales, while the External Relations will Committee will handle issues affecting the Circles, Kotoko Ladies, AKOPA as well as build bridges between Kotoko and other cubs in the country and those outside.

The sub-committees will co-opt members outside the board and management whose experience can enhance their performance. When asked whether the board was involved in the securing of the ?900 million Spacefon sponsorship deal, the board chairman replied in the negative. He praised the management for the good initiative that culminated in the signing of the deal but expressed regret that management kept the board totally in the dark.

“I was greatly embarrassed when on the morning of the launch of the deal a reporter of Skyy FM in Sekondi called to congratulate me and ask for details of the sponsorship. “That was the first time I heard about the Spacefon sponsorship,” Mr Obeng said.

On whether Kotoko will find it financially prudent to retain the services of Coach Ernst Middendorp in view of the club’s weak financial position, Mr Obeng said the matter will be addressed in the long run by the Finance Sub-Committee. The board chairman gave the assurance that the board members are determined to use their experience to turn the fortunes of Kotoko around, especially in the area of self-financing. He said the board would spare no effort to place Kotoko where it rightly belongs in national and continental football to justify the confidence reposed in them by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.