Asante Kotoko S.C - history, facts, and stats
Asante Kotoko S.C is one of the giant clubs in Ghana. With existence spanning more than 80 years, the club has recorded some interesting success stories, even though there are some downtimes. The club had a rough beginning, but with tenacity and focus, it has become one of the most reputable football clubs that produce notable football Asante Kotoko players in Ghana's sports industry.
Source: Twitter
Also called Asante Kotoko and the Porcupine Warriors, Asante Kotoko S. C is a professional football club from Kumasi, Ashanti Region in Ghana. The club competes in Ghanaian Premier Leagues, and it has proudly emerged as the champion more than 20 times. The International Federation of Football History and Statistics ranks it as the African club of the 20th century.
The Asante Kotoko players are majorly drawn from the country's soccer talent pool, although they have one or two foreign nationality players. One of the team's key players is Emmanuel Gyamfi. Also, Asante Kotoko coaches have been recruited from more diverse nationalities to ensure that the team is handled properly. The current coach is Maxwell Konadu, a Ghanaian.
Quick facts
- Officially founded: 1935
- Owner: Nana Osei Tutu II
- Location: Ashanti, Kumasi
- Home ground: Baba Yara stadium
- Stadium capacity: 40,528
- Currently rankings: 1st in Ghana, 35th in Africa, and 532nd in the world
- Partnership and endorsement: Sunderland football club of England, Rlg communications and Hisense.
- Trophies: 57 (as of 2020)
- Kit colors: Red (home kit), red and white (away kit), and green kit
Asante Kotoko history
Kumasi Asante Kotoko Sporting Club's history is traceable to when a young driver nurtured the idea of forming a football team after watching an exciting football match. So, who founded Asante Kotoko? Kwasi Kumah founded the football association.
Kwasi Kumah was a native of Nyankyerenease near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. He worked for Colonel Ross, an English man, and military officer, as his chauffeur. His friend, L.Y Asamoah, supported him, and he formed the Ashanti United Football Club in 1926. He led 13 young Ashanti men and bought a set of jerseys to start his football team.
Source: Twitter
When all didn't go as planned for the newly formed club, the team went through a name change series. In 1935, a teacher at the Kumasi Government School who had developed an interest in the association suggested to change the name from Kumasi Titanic to Kumasi Asante Kotoko football club.
However, there was a need to get permission from the Ashanti Kingdom ruler since the "Kotoko" in the name was symbolic to his kingdom. Fortunately, Nana Osei Agyeman Prempeh II agreed to the arrangement and became the club's first patron.
The association is popularly known as the Porcupine Warriors because of the Kotoko in their name, which is the prominent image on their emblem. Like the porcupine's characteristic nature, the association has been able to shrug off opposing sides to become one of the country's best football clubs.
Unfortunately, on the 9th of May, 2001, the club recorded a catastrophe at the Accra sports stadium. Hundreds of spectators died in a match between the football team and Accra Hearts of Oak because Kotoko fans got disappointed at the match's result. They threw plastic seats and bottles onto the pitch, and the police responded by firing tear gas into the trapped crowd.
The team was also banned from their home ground and fined 20,000 Ghana cedis due to its supporters' unruly behavior during a football match against Berekum Chelsea.
Asante Kotoko S.C facts
Since the Asante Kotoko S.C was founded in 1935, it has gone on to make a name for itself in the history of Ghana football. After receiving the Ashanti Kingdom ruler's blessings and backing, the association began to blossom and gradually grew to become a force to reckon with. Asante Kotoko results, so far, have been impressive.
Their home ground is known as the Baba Yara stadium, which is situated in Ashanti, Kumasi. As a result of its success, the club has massive supporters.
The association has also been in partnership with international clubs. This includes Sunderland Football club of England, who signed a strategic collaboration with them in 2011. The association also has a partnership with Hisense, which qualified the club to receive one million Ghana cedis in cash and products from the company for three seasons.
Source: Twitter
More so, another deal entered into with RLG communications is said to include the production of about a million Asante Kotoko S.C branded phones. They would be sold to its estimated eight supporters. A mega stadium will also be constructed.
Stats
Asante Kotoko S.C is one of the most respected football clubs in Ghana with lots of fans and an exceptional track record. In the last truncated league season, the team finished third after winning seven matches, lost three and four draws in 15 games.
How many trophies has Kotoko? The club has won various trophies from different local and international competitions. Within 85 years of its existence, the association has won the following trophies:
- 23 Ghana Premier League
- Two African Champions League
- Nine MTN FA Cups
- Three Ghana Super Cups
- Two Ghana Top 4 Cups
- Three Ghana Anual Republic Day Cups
- 12 Ghana Swag Cups
- Three Ghana Telecom Gala
This means that the club is a proud winner of 57 trophies.
Current Asante Kotoko players
While we cannot overrule the fact that, from time to time, especially during the transfer season, the following are the current players for the 2020/2021 season:
- Felix Annan - Goalkeeper
- Ibrahim Danlad - Goalkeeper
- Kwame Baah - Goalkeeper
- Razak Abalora - Goalkeeper
- Habib Mohammed - Centre-Back
- Yussif Mubarik - Centre-Back
- Ismail Ganiyu - Centre-Back
- Wahab Adams - Centre-Back
- Andrews Kwadwo Appau - Centre-Back
- Patrick Asmah - Left-Back
- Ibrahim Imoro - Left-Back
- Christopher Nettey - Right-Back
- Godfred Asiamah - Right-Back
- Emmanuel Sarkodie - Midfield
- Emmanuel Keyekeh - Defensive Midfield
- Abdul Latif Anabila - Defensive Midfield
- Samuel Frimpong - Defensive Midfield
- Sulley Muniru - Central Midfield
- Fábio Gama - Central Midfield
- Kwame Adom Frimpong - Central Midfield
- Mudasiru Salifu - Central Midfield
- Augustine Okrah - Attacking Midfield
- William Opoku Mensah - Left Winger
- Emmanuel Gyamfi - Right Winger
- Kwame Opoku - Centre-Forward
- Ibrahim Osman - Centre-Forward
- Naby Laye Keita - Centre-Forward
- Evans Adomako - Centre-Forward
Asante Kotoko S.C is arguably one of the oldest and the most prominent clubs in Ghana. Even though their beginning was rough, the club has become one of the most successful and reputable football clubs in the country. It has also produced some star players representing the country's national team, Black Stars, internationally.
Accra Hearts of Oak S.C is another football club in Ghana. As published by Yen.com.gh, it is the oldest football club. The football club, nicknamed Phobia, has been a significant part of Ghana's pre-eminent clubs and has brought home numerous trophies. The association is recognized as the only team in Africa to play the CAF Champions League unbeaten.
Source: YEN.com.gh
