Accra, March 3, GNA- Supporters of Kumasi Asante Kotoko have been called upon to rally behind the club so that it would realise its dream of becoming one of the greatest clubs in Africa. Mr Yaw Osafo Marfo, Minister of Education and Sports made the call in an address read for him at the launch of Kotoko Weekly Sponsor Tickets in Accra on Friday.

The project, an initiative of Asare Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation that is committed to the development and promotion of sports, enables every supporter of the club to buy tickets every week. The buyer then becomes a sponsor of the club and the tickets would be entered into a raffle draw where lucky winners would receive prizes. Mr Osafo Marfo said sports play a major role in the socio-economic development of the nation and that its development should be the collective efforts of all.

He charged the supporters not to support the club by shouting and clapping only but to show support by contributing financially to the club.

The Minister said there are so many ways of raising funds to support the club and that the supporters should devise their own ways of raising money for the upkeep of the club.

"You blow your horns and trumpets whenever there was a win for your club but you do not contribute a pesewa', he asked.

Mr Osafo Marfo urged the supporters to be respectful and avoid all forms of rowdism that may tarnish the image of the club they cherish so much.

Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, Okuapemhene praised the Asare Foundation for their initiative and urged other bodies and institutions to follow the shinning example of the foundation.

Mr Stephen Obeng Asare, Managing Director of the Foundation, in an address read for him, said football has become one of the most popular sports in the world today and the popularity o the game is still rising.

It is, in fact, the most popular sports in Ghana and the fact that Ghanaians have developed a great passion for it underscores the seriousness and importance that the nation attaches to the game. He said, in an endeavour to strengthen the financial base of Kotoko, the Kotoko Special Raffle was launched last year to raise funds to finance and support the programme for the promotion and development of the club.

He expressed the hope that additional measures would be promptly be found to significantly improve the finances of the club and it is in pursuit of this objective that this time, the foundation has come out with the package and called on all supporters to patronise it. March 03 06