Posted On Friday, 12th April 2013
Kotoko Executive Chairman Dr KK Sarpong
Berekum Chelsea chief Oduro Sarfo has launched an astonishing attack on Kotoko claiming their current leaders lack the vision to catapult the club to greatness.
Sarfo, who helped his club to excel in last year’s Champions League, says the decision by Dr. KK Sarpong’s leadership to sell the club’s best players ahead of their participation in Africa’s top-flight club competition negatively affected their campaign.
The Porcupine Warriors failed to reach the last sixteen of Champions League on Sunday when they were knocked out at home by Algerian side JSM Bejaia.
The 1-1 draw against the Algerian side means Kotoko were unable to emulate Berekum Chelsea who reached the group phase of the competition last year at the first attempt.
While Berekum Chelsea resisted the temptation of selling their top players before the start of the competition, Kotoko embarked on a selling spree before the competition started.
Last season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), Daniel Nii Adjei and Yaw Frimpong joined DR Congo side TP Mazembe while striker Ben Acheampong was sold to Angolan club Petro Atletico.
Defender Awal Mohammed left at the end of last season to South African side Maritzurg United while left-back Gideon Baah moved to Finland.
Even though Oduro Sarfo admits that there is no mismanagement in Kotoko, the lack of foresight by the leadership of the Porcupines led to their downfall.
“I think their leadership would agree that, the materials were not there,” Oduro Sarfo who also works as a West Africa consultant for TP Mazembe said.
“Example is that, Berekum Chelsea refused to sell it players when they knew CAF competition is ahead of them.
“In the case of Kotoko, they sell all their experienced players and that has affected them in the CAF champions league.
“I wouldn’t say its mismanagement because running a football club here in Ghana is a big task. Their problem now is lack of vision not mismanagement.
“If your vision is blurred and you don’t think ahead, you are likely to face such problems,” he said.
Dr. KK Sarpong has vigourously defended the club’s selling policy insisting the high spending nature of running a big club like Kotoko led to its decision to sell players.
The astute and accomplished businessman says refusal to sell could cripple the club because of the mounting debt.