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FEATURED: Kotoko, The Spineless Porcupine

by
Raphael Bannerman-Quartey
March 30, 2024

On July 22, 2024, news went rife that Prosper Ogum Narteh was back at the helm of affairs with Kotoko. Well, the news of his appointment sharply divided opinions with some counting on his experience to revive the club back to its glory days while some felt as though he wasn’t in the best possible position to take up the job.

A lot happened during his first stint, with loads of infractions with the board and management, issues ranging from club transfer activity, player selection, management backing players, unpaid bonuses, and others.

This season 2023/24, the club’s transfer activity saw a host of notable players, Abdul Rafiu Yakubu, Maxwell Agyemang, Andrews Kwadwo Appau, Mohammed Alhassan, Solomon Sarfo Taylor, and Evans Adomako asked to leave while efforts were made to recruit, Baba Yahaya, Yahaya Dawuni, Nanabayin Amoah, Henry Ansu, Yussif Nurudeen Mohammed, Kalo Outtara, Andrews Ntim Manu and others.

Kotoko new signings 2023/24

When the league commenced there was a supreme bubble of expectations that was formed by the teeming masses of the club, who were on the watchful lookout for what Ogum would bring to the table this time around. Well, they drew a goalless draw in their first home game against a newly promoted side, Kpando Hearts of Lions. The next nine games that followed were a mixed bag of results, a paltry two wins (Accra Lions, Aduana Stars) laced with four draws and losses apiece. This certainly didn’t do the title-winning coach any honors as pressure mounted from several quarters, he shushed the naysayers with an impressive six wins from seven which had lots of the fans harbor a sense of belief that they would reclaim the league.

The league was put on hold for the AFCON to take place due to the Black Stars of Ghana’s participation in the tournament, it was clear he let his foot off the paddle.

The second round for Kotoko and Ogum Narteh has not been a worthwhile experience by any stretch, a culmination of off-the-field issues, player upheavals, and disciplinary issues has taken a toll on the club. It started with a loss away to Hearts of Lions at Kpando, then with a win at home against GoldStars, then a pile of four successive losses, Karela United, Accra Lions, Aduana Stars, and recently Nations FC at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

If this trend of results doesn’t highlight a mirage of issues at the club, then I don’t know what else would spurn the fan base into thinking otherwise about their beloved club.

The constituted Interim Management Committee(IMC) by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II reiterated their immense support for the coach, despite sacking rumors.

Kotoko IMC

With portions of the statement reading “The IMC acknowledges the concerns raised by our cherished supporters regarding our current situation. It must be placed on record that management is equally not enthused with our results and deems it unacceptable. However, the IMC is committed to ensuring that there is a quick turnaround in our current fortunes.

They however assured fans that things would change for the best “We therefore urge our fans and all stakeholders to remain calm and continue to support our club in these turbulent times.” It ended.

For me, I think it was a step in the right direction for the IMC of which Ogum Narteh is an integral part to have calmed displeased fans following a trend of bad results but it got me questioning, where the check and balance was to get the club moving in a positive direction. The spot the fans have been yearning to get to in the last few years.

In my opinion, a lot of things have happened within the last few years and I feel the Life Patron of the Club needs to take cogent steps to help the club back to its glory days.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II

There is no doubt, that he has the club at heart but the model, structure, and policies, where the club is entrusted to one rich magnate to steer the affairs of the club should be long eschewed. The club should have a clear model, structure, and framework to operate with, modern football administration and management go beyond one individual investing his financial war chest, at a point it would bring success but its growth and sustainability for the long term are what matters. Ask yourself, how are the North African clubs doing it? How have they consistently dominated the African inter-club competitions over the years? We need to as a matter of urgency learn a thing or two from their models.

The fans play a huge part in advancing the game, they support financially, spiritually, physically and any other means possible for the growth and development of the club. They hold a special place within the rank and file of club football development but they need to be oriented with how the game has shaped up in the last few years. It goes beyond the remits of just 3 points. The fans need to appreciate the importance of supporting the board, management, and technical team, even when things look dire, because, sometimes, things may look bleak from the onset but with time they can gain positive ground. The recurrent spate of disbanding management, boards, hiring, and firing of coaches for Kotoko has proven not to yield any dividends. The thing is that, if fans are patient enough they will certainly enjoy the dividends of their patience in due seasons to come.

There is no doubt Ogum Narteh is a good coach, you can tell from how he sets up his team, his proactiveness to get the results for the side, his love and passion for the game just like any other fan but his countenance, attitude, sometimes leaves his defenders a bit edgy in his defense. In a recent media tour he opined that was wasn’t short of options when he was asked to take up the job by the club owner I felt that was a bit boastful but to the latter, I understood the trajectory, and the message was clear as daylight.

Second-comings are entirely not the best-scripted outlooks and with things looking dire, Ogum has to change the narrative or his return to the club will dissipate into thin air as though he never managed a title-winning side in his first outing under the leadership of Nana Yaw Amponsah.