Asante Kotoko – Players, coach, jersey, stadium

Asante Kotoko doesn’t look like a warrior these days. The Ghanaian side is famous in Ghana and Africa, but their illustrious history seems like tales from a distant past. The Ghanaian giants at this stage look more like Lilliputians.

Asante Kotoko once bestrode the football scene on the home front and the continent like Titans – rubbing shoulders with the best in Africa. The sleeping giant seems to have been nudged from its slumber but needs to stretch its docile limbs to get back to reenacting their rich history.

History

Asante Kotoko players in action — Credit @AsanteKotoko_SC Twitter

Asante Kotoko Sporting Club, known as Asante Kotoko, was founded on 31 August 1935 and is based in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

They are also the Porcupine Warriors. Asante Kotoko has won the Ghana Premier League 24 times (a record) and the CAF Champions League twice. The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) adjudged them as the African club of the century.

Within their rich history is a dark stain that puts a blemish on their proud hearts. They call it the Accra Sports Stadium disaster.

A reminder of how ugly the sport can be, occurred at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra, Ghana, May 2001.

Accra Hearts of Oak (The Phobians) were up against Asante Kotoko. Two late disallowed goals by the referee saw Hearts of Oak win 2-1. The result brought out the ire of Asante Kotoko fans. The melee that ensued left 117 people dead.

Manager – Dr Prosper Ogum

OUR BOSS 🫡#AKSC #Fabucensus #TimetoProsperAgain pic.twitter.com/RNR7YpDJon

— Asante Kotoko SC – 2X CAF CL Winners🥇 (@AsanteKotoko_SC) August 21, 2023

The Porcupine Warriors swallowed their spit by rehiring former coach Dr Prosper Narteh Ogum for the new season.

Dr Ogum departed the club following his feat of leading the Kotoko side to win the Ghana Premier League title – their first in eight years.

The Doctor of Philosophy returned after the departure of Burkinabe trainer Seydou Zerbo and Abdul Gazale, an assistant coach. Gazale took over from Zerbo mid-season.

The 46-year-old Ogum also led Elmina Sharks to promotion in 2013 and was also coach at West African Football Academy before joining Asante Kotoko in 2021. It is his second stint with the club.

Asante Kotoko Players – 2023/24

Good Porcupine Family, our Ivorian 🇨🇮 whizkid, @SergeEricZeze has a message for us.

Get more on the link below 👇

Inside Pre-season: Agility, Drills, Ball Work, Excitement | Asante Kotoko Pre-season 2023https://t.co/KVToLxAaT3 pic.twitter.com/yGUCYZDE21

— Asante Kotoko SC – 2X CAF CL Winners🥇 (@AsanteKotoko_SC) August 14, 2023

Goalkeepers

33 Frederick Asare
16 Ibrahim Danlad
1 Moise D Pouaty
22 Abdul Rafui Yakubu

Defenders

2 Augustine Agyapong
25 Maxwell Kofi Agyemang
29 Nicholas Osei Bonsu
15 Andrews Kwadwo Appa
6 Sherif Mohammed
4 Yussif Mubarik
17 Charles Owusu
35 John Tedeku

Midfielders

23 Shadrack Ado
20 Dickson Afoakwa
35 Justice Blay
36 Rocky Dwamena
19 Richmond Lamptey
26 Sheriff Mohammed
3 Enock Morrison
13 Clinton Opoku
14 Isaac Oppong
27 Ernest Osei Poku
40 Serge Eric Zeze

Forwards

31 Nicholas Mensah
10 Georges R. Mfegue
9 Steven Dese Mukwala
25 Ibrahim Osman
28 Solomon Sarfo Taylor
Evans Adomako
Samuel Boateng

Salary

On a continent not known for paying massive salaries, Asante pays decent wages.

Asante Kotoko players were previously on monthly salary expenses amounting to GHC64,000. It is now GHC350,000. It means the highest-paid Kotoko player receives a monthly salary of $2,000, while the least-paid (a senior high school student) receives GHC2500 monthly.

The club's salary structure is problematic, but the new management has taken steps to address the issue.

Rocky Dwamena, a student from T. I Ahmadiyya Senior High School in Kumasi, is the only student in the squad and could be the lowest-paid player in the team. However, Ugandan forward Steven Mukwala is rumoured to be the highest earner in the team.

Stadium – Baba Yara Sports Stadium

Baba Yara Sports Stadium (Kumasi Sports Stadium) is a multi-purpose stadium in Kumasi, Ashanti. It is the largest stadium in Ghana, with a seating capacity of 40,528.

Besides football, the Kumasi Stadium also host athletics meet. It is also home to King Faisal.

The Baba Yara Stadium was originally built by the United African Company (UAC) in 1957. The first stands were constructed in 1971.

It was renamed after Kumasi-born footballer Baba Yara (1936–1969). He played for Asante Kotoko between 1955–1961.

Colours

The colours of Asante Kotoko depict the colours on both the national flag (ethnic flag) and national emblem of Ashanti with the colours red, yellow and green.

Achievements

Domestic

Ghana Premier League: 24

1959, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1967-68, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985-86,1987, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2003, 2005, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2021–22 (record)