The countdown is over and 90 MINUTES can exclusively report that the maiden winner of the novelty ‘player of the month’ award being instituted at Asante Kotoko will be announced and rewarded on October 27.

The first winner of a huge trophy and an undisclosed cash will be revealed at the plush Miklin Hotel in Kumasi at a ceremony during which the new award scheme will also be officially launched.

The launch ceremony originally scheduled for this Saturday, had to be postponed to a fortnight later because of Kotoko’s tight league schedule beginning with Sunday’s epic trip to Obuasi to face Ashgold. The brainchild of Dr. Ernest Opoku, Managing Director of Redhill Medical Centre at Santasi-Anyinam in Kumasi, thus dubbed ‘Redhill player of the month award,’ Kotoko fans will decide 60% with the technical team of the club deciding the remaining 40% on who wins at the end of each month.

A short code of 1935 has therefore been assigned only on club sponsors MTN for fans to text and vote for their best performing Kotoko player each month at a cost of GH¢1 per text. All expenses are borne by Dr. Opoku who will at the upcoming home league fixture against Heart of Lion, also pay the first monthly salary of GH¢2,000 to Kotoko star Michael Anaba whom he is personally taking care of on behalf of the club.

“It’s all because of the love I have for Kotoko and motivating the players across board to put in their best and win the African Champions’ League. It’s just for the love of the club, I’ve supported Kotoko all my life,” Dr. Opoku told 90 MINUTES.C