A staunch supporter of Asante Kotoko, Alhaji Ali Maradona has given the club $500 to help pay outstanding arrears owed the players.
Reports reaching footy-ghana.com has it that the club has failed to pay the players their winning bonuses and salaries running into thousands of Ghana cedis for the past three months.
Pundits say their poor showings against Bechem United, Berekum Chelsea and Hearts of Lions was as a result of non-payment of salaries and winning bonuses. Alhaji Maradona says the Board is not supportive of the club’s acting Chief Executive Opoku Nti, adding that if the situation is not resolved, Asante Kotoko’s next league match against Liberty Professionals could prove problematic for the Porcupine Warriors.
“It seems the Board is now Opoku Nti. Why should it be so when the owner (Otumfuo Osei Tutu II) appointed people to run the club? Why are they not helping Opoku Nti? When was the last time they paid bonuses and salaries to the players?
Most of the players don’t want to play because they don’t have money, and that is sad. I can confidently tell you that for the past three months, the Board has failed to pay the players, and that is worrying. Some of them are sad and if we don’t take care the game against Liberty will be difficult for us, and that is why I have given the club $500 to at least use that amount of money and pay some of the players. I am calling on the board to act fast or things will get out of hand.”