Sunderland To Assist Kotoko Raise Funds To Begin Academy

Posted On Tuesday, 18th June 2013

Asante Kotoko chairman Dr. K.K Sarpong in handshake with Sunderland's Commercial Director and Board member Gary Hutchinson

Asante Kotoko chairman Dr. K.K Sarpong in handshake with Sunderland’s Commercial Director and Board member Gary Hutchinson

English club Sunderland have agreed to support Asante Kotoko to raise the needed funds towards the start its juvenile academy.

The Ghana Premier League champions have an existing partnership agreement with Sunderland of which technical and administrative experiences are exchanged.

The two sides have however decided to take their relationship to the next level with youth development at the center of their latest discussions.

Kotoko have began construction of a hostel facility to house players of its academy.

The team however plans to begin its academy by the end of the year – by which time the hostel facility will still be under construction.

The Kumasi-based side have thus decided to adopt a ‘Host Family System’ being used by Sunderland in order to commence the operations of its academy.

The Host Family System will see recruited U12 and U15 players of Kotoko stay with some selected families in Kumasi of which the club will bear the total cost.

Sunderland have however agreed to help Kotoko raise the needed funds to defray the cost of operating this system following discussions between the leadership of the two clubs in England.

“Several issues were discussed at the meeting including the start of the Kotoko academy,” Kotoko’s International Relations Manager Kwame Baah-Nuako told MTNFootball.com.

“We look to start the academy by the end of the year but by that time our hostel facility will still be under construction so we have decided to adopt the ‘Host Family System’ developed by Sunderland.

“The club (Sunderland) following our discussions have agreed to help us raise the funds needed to start our academy.

“So they have asked us to prepare all documentations for onward transfer to their sponsors so that we can have some financial assistance.”