Soccer News of Saturday, 10 September 2005

Source: listowell yesu bukarson.

Kotoko To Seek Refund From Ministry

... For Investiments In The Konongo Park

A co-opted member of the Interem Management Team of Kumasi Asante Kotoko,Mr.Yamoa Ponkoh has revealed that they will soon write to the Ministry of Education and Sports to seek a refund of the hundreds of millions of cedis invested in the development of the Konogo park.He lamented the lack of vision and forsight of soccer administrators which has made them very inconsistent in their decisions on petinent issues that seriously affect the very fabric of the game in the country.

Speaking on AUTHENTIC KAPITAL SPORTS,Mr Yamoah Ponko intimated that whiles Kotoko hold grave concerns over the initial decision that the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra and the Baba Yara Sporta Stadium in Kumasi be closed down to make way for the development of the field and the refurbishment of the facilities for the impending 2008Cup of Nations, Kotoko were forced to develop the Konongo Park to be used as their home grounds for the on-going GT premiership.He said after investing huge sums ! of money,energy and time coupled with frequent risks of plying the Kumasi-Konongo road the authorities only turned around to ask them to return to honour their home matches in Kumasi.According to Mr. Yamaoh Ponko the manner in which sports authorities inconsistently interfer in the smooth running of the game surely leaves much to be desired.

Asked what plans Kotoko have to take against the Ministry after spending almost 200 million cedis in the Park,the Kotoko management member declared "the ministry promised to reimburse us after the rehabilitation of the Park and we are going to remind them to make good their promise to us,if they fail to honour their word then mangement will take a decision on how to get the money back".

"Sometimes it is incomprehensible the way certain decisions concernig the most possionate game in the nation are made by the powers that be in Ghana football,it is high time authorities attched some seriousness and importance to the possion of the nation-soocer.

Mr.Yamoah ponko called for massive backing from supporters of the club to enable them realise their dream of annexing the pretigious GT Premeir League Cup.