Asante Kotoko S.C.

History

Early years

The foundation of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Sporting Club was laid by 13 young Ashanti men led by a young driver, Mr. Kwasi Kumah, ably supported by L.Y. Asamoah, an electrician. Mr. Kwasi Kumah, a native of Nyankyerenease near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, was a chauffeur to an English man and military officer, Colonel Ross. Kwasi Kumah nurtured the idea of forming a football team when he watched an exciting football match. When Colonel Ross returned home for good, Kumah bought a set of jerseys to start his football team. With cooperation from his good friend, L.Y. Asamoah, he formed the Ashanti United Football Club in 1926. Five years later, the team was renamed Kumasi Titanics. The team was really handicapped because most of the players worked in government organizations like the Prisons and Railways, and had been transferred from Kumasi. "Kumasi Titanics" did not find enough luck in their new name, and in 1934, they adopted a more powerful name, Mighty Atoms. Still, the club did not see much progress, and in 1935, Mr. J.S.K. Frimpong, popularly called Teacher Frimpong, then a teacher at the Kumasi Government School who had all the time shown interest in the club, organized some men from his school and proposed a change of name from "Kumasi Titanics" to Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club. Permission had to be obtained from the Asantehene (King of the Kingdom of Ashanti) because the name "Kotoko", meaning "Porcupine" is the official symbol of the Ashanti nation. The Asantehene, Nana Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, became the first life patron of the club. Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club was subsequently formally founded in 1935.

Asante Kotoko's emblem features the "Porcupine," displaying an inbuilt arsenal of sharp spikes for use when attacked by an enemy.

Tragedy

The Accra Sport Stadium disaster occurred at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra, Ghana on 9 May 2001. Ghana's most successful football teams played that day: the Accra Hearts of Oak (The Phobians) Sporting Club and the Asante Kotoko. Accra had two late goals, and a referee would call 2–1 Accra, resulting in disappointed Kotoko fans throwing plastic seats and bottles onto the pitch. The police responded by firing tear gas into the trapped crowd. Panic and a stampede ensued as fans tried to escape. After the hour-long ordeal, it was found that 117 deaths resulted from compressive asphyxia and 10 fans died from trauma.

In January 2020, the team was banned from the Baba Yara stadium temporarily after violent reactions by supporters led to a fan being hit by a rubber bullet fired by the police. The fans were seen in various videos throwing projectiles onto the pitch because they were dissatisfied with a refereeing decision. The incident happened in a match that they played against Berekum Chelsea. A GFA ruling fined the club 20,000 Ghana cedis, and the next three home games were played behind closed doors.

2000s

In July 2011, Asante Kotoko and English Premier League club Sunderland signed a partnership agreement, which will see Sunderland offering practical support and advice in youth coaching, player development, fitness, and medical matters, as well as football business strategy, to Asante Kotoko. In January 2002, P V Obeng was appointed as the board chairman of the Board of Directors of the club.

Colours

The colours of Asante Kotoko depict the colours on both the national flag (ethnic flag) and national emblem of Ashanti with the colours of red, yellow, and green used on the Asante Kotoko first (home) kit shirts and shorts while the colours white and red are used on the Asante Kotoko second alternative kit shirts and shorts; and in 2011, Asante Kotoko reintroduced the third alternative kit of black, yellow, and green colours worn in the late 1980s.

Kits evolution

Emblem

Asante Kotoko's emblem symbolizes the national emblem of the Kingdom of Ashanti (Kingdom of Asante) and Ashanti with the colours black, green and yellow enclosing the colours on the national flag and ethnic flag of the Kingdom of Asante and Asante Kotoko's emblem also represents the [national emblem of the Ashanti people and the Ashanti nation (who are more like the Catalan people and Catalonia); the Asante Kotoko emblem features a remarkably threatening looking porcupine and the motto "Ashanti ", which means "If you kill a thousand, a thousand more will come".

Ground

Asante Kotoko's home stadium is the Baba Yara Stadium located in the capital city of Ashanti, Kumasi. With a 40,528 capacity, Baba Yara Stadium, which was built in 1957, is the largest stadium in Ghana. The stadium is Baba Yara, named after a former Ghanaian footballer who played for Kotoko between 1955 and 1961. In 2010, it was reported that as part of an endorsement by Rlg Communications, Asante Kotoko will get a multi-purpose stadium called the Rlg Fabulous Arena.

Support

Asante Kotoko is the 6th biggest football team and professional club in Continental Africa and arguably the biggest club in Ghana; Asante Kotoko has a speculated 10 million followers and in the year 2011, Asante Kotoko and Sunderland AFC respective club executive Chairmen's engaged in strategic and positive discussions on both clubs collaborating. The Asante Kotoko strategical partnership sees Sunderland of the Premier League sharing its coaching and business expertise with Asante Kotoko, offering practical support and advice in youth coaching, player development, fitness and medical matters and football business strategy. Kotoko in turn works closely with Sunderland AFC to help the Premier League club build and grow its brand in the emerging African territory and geographic Africa. In the 2021–22 season of the top-flight football league of Ghana, Asante Kotoko drew an average home attendance of 4,585. This average was limited because of measures.

Ownership

Club financing and club endorsements

The owner and life patron of Asante Kotoko sports club is the Asantehene, King of the Ashantis/ Asantes of Ghana, Osei Tutu II. The GH150 million per annum (per season) Asante Kotoko squad players salary wage bill for 2015 and further additional GH105 million per annum (per season) squad players transfer wage bill for 2015 is financed from the large and industrial mineral rich economy of Ashanti with Ashanti being cocoa producer of theobroma cacao and cocoa Ashanti.[[File:King Asantehene Osei Tutu II of Ashanti (Ashanti region) Asanteman.png|thumb|311x311px|Asante Kotoko [[president (corporate title)|president]] and [[owner]]; [[King]] [[Asantehene]] of [[Ashanti Region|Ashanti]], [[Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II|Osei Tutu II]].]] Ashanti is a top-10 producer of gold bars and gold bullions in the world as Ashanti is also a major site of the world's gold-mining industry with Ashanti being home to the world's 10th largest producing gold mine on Earth; The Obuasi Gold Mine. The 1 ton of Gold bars and Gold (Bullion) is worth $64.3 million (US$64,300,000) at $2000/oz.

Asante Kotoko's diverse endorsements portfolio includes technology corporations Interplast, Smart TV, Iei and giant Rlg Communications; financial institution Fidelity Bank; water company Everpure limited, Peppis Pizza limited, and Vit's Noodles limited; telecommunication companies Millicom and MTN Group; mass media company SportsPro Media limited; worldwide major electricity generation and electricity construction incorporation Symbion Power; and Singaporean kit manufacturer Kubba.

Partnerships

In November 2020 a partnership agreement was signed between the club and Hisense Ghana. This made Hisense, an electronics manufacturer, the club's official electronics partner from 2020 until 2023.

Sponsorship

Training facility

Asante Kotoko Adako-Jachie Training Complex

Asante Kotoko training ground and training facilities headquarters, are located in the capital city of the Ashanti nation, Kumasi. There is ongoing construction of the "Asante Kotoko Adako-Jachie Training Complex" which when completed in 2015 will consist of three training pitches, one artificial grass pitch, multi-functional sports hall, Olympic-size swimming pool and a 20-bedroom camping facility for Asante Kotoko at Adako Jachie suburb situated on the outskirts of Kumasi. The "Asante Kotoko Adako-Jachie Training Complex"; three training pitches and the 20 bedroom facility will come with a large multi-operational health club and gym, weights for strength training and physical fitness area, a massage unit, dressing rooms, the technical staff's and coaches' office, as well as a conference room with screening facilities and offices for the Asante Kotoko Chief operating officers (Operations Director) and the technical bench.

Whereas one of the training pitches will go to the Asante Kotoko reserve and youth squad; the remaining two other training pitches will be used by the Asante Kotoko professional senior squad. The Asante Kotoko executive board committee revealed that 10 percent of contributions to the Asante Kotoko development project fund would be used to fund the "Asante Kotoko Adako-Jachie Training Complex" and mega training facility. The Asante Kotoko executive board intimated that the Asante Kotoko Owner and Life Patron of Asante Kotoko, Asantehene King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II of the Ashanti nation is to provide both financial and moral support to the "Asante Kotoko Adako-Jachie Training Complex" and mega training facility construction project. The Asante Kotoko squad players are driven from the Asante Kotoko stadium on the Asante Kotoko squad coach (bus) manufactured by Tata Motors of conglomerate Tata Group to the training headquarters of Asante Kotoko.

Situated at the headquarters of Asante Kotoko is also the Youth academy of Asante Kotoko, in which system and program focuses on the Asante Kotoko youth squad players development as footballers. Former products of the Asante Kotoko Youth academy development program and system include Karim Abdul Razak, Tony Yeboah, Isaac Vorsah, Samuel Inkoom, Godwin Antwi.

Current squad

Honours

Domestic

• Ghana Premier League: 25
  • 1959, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2003, 2005, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2021–22 (record)
• GFA Normalization Committee Special Competition: 1
  • 2019
• FA Cup: 10
  • 1958, 1959, 1960, 1978, 1984, 1997–98, 2001, 2014, 2017, 2025
• Ghana Super Cup (Champion of Champions) : 4
  • 2012, 2013, 2014, 2025 (record)

Other GFA National Titles

• SWAG Cup: 16
  • 1981, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998 (shared), 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2015 (record)
• Ghana Telecom Gala: 3
  • 1999–2000, 2001, 2005 (record)
• Ghana Top Four Cup: 3
  • 2003, 2007 (record)
• President's Cup: 9
  • 1973, 1984, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2025 (record)
• GHALCA Special Cup: 3
• Ghana Top Eight Cup: 3
• Ghana Top Six Cup: 2
• Independence Cup: 3
• June 4 Cup: 1
• 31 December Revolution Cup: 2
• Democracy Cup: 1
  • 2024

Continental

• African Cup of Champions Clubs/CAF Champions League: 2
  • Champions: 1970, 1983 Contributor: Bright Yeboah Taylor (Ghanaian Sports Historian)(KUMASI)

Toyota Cup

• 2025 Winners

Performance in CAF competitions

• CAF Champions League: 10 appearances ::2004 – Third Round ::2005 – First Round ::2006 – Group Stage ::2007 – Preliminary Round ::2009 – First Round ::2010 – Preliminary Round ::2013 – First Round ::2014 – Preliminary Round ::2015 – First Round ::2019–20 – First Round
• African Cup of Champions Clubs: 16 appearances ::1966: Quarter-finals ::1967: Finalist ::1969: Semi-finals ::1970: Champion ::1971: Finalist ::1973: Finalist ::1976: Quarter-finals ::1981: Second Round ::1982: Finalist ::1983: Champion ::1984: First Round ::1987: Semi-finals ::1988: First Round ::1990: Semi-final ::1992: Quarter-finals ::1993: Finalist
• CAF Confederation Cup: 6 appearances ::1995 – Quarter-finals ::1997 – Second Round ::2004 – Finalist ::2008 – Group Stage ::2019 – Group Stage ::2020 – Playoffs round
• 2CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 7 appearances ::1979 – First Round ::1985 – Quarter-Finals ::1991 – First Round ::1999 – Second Round ::2002 – Finalist ::2003 – Quarter-Finals ::2005 – First Round

Former footballers

For details on former Asante Kotoko SC footballers see :Category:Asante Kotoko S.C. players.

Club captains

• Ibrahim Sunday
• Malik Jabir
• James Kwesi Appiah
• Abdoulaye Soulama (2008–10)
• Jordan Opoku (2010–11)
• Amos Frimpong (2015–2019)
• Felix Annan (2019–2021)
• Ismail Abdul-Ganiyu (2021–2022)
• Richard Boadu (2022–2023)
• Ibrahim Danlad (2023 - 2024)
• Frederick Asare (2025 - 2025)
• Samba O'niel (2025–present)https://ghanasoccernet.com/asante-kotoko-appoint-samba-oniel-as-new-club-captain?amp=1

Head coaches

• Ghana George Commey Mills-Odoi (1951–1952)
• Hungary Tamás Kertész (1971–1973)
• Ghana Ibrahim Sunday (1982)
• Ghana Malik Jabir (1993–1994)
• Ghana James Kwesi Appiah (1995–1996)
• Germany Ernst Middendorp (30 December 1999 – 30 June 2002)
• Ghana Karim Abdul Razak (2003–2004)
• Ghana Malik Jabir (2005–2006)
• Turkey Telat Üzüm (1 October 2006 – 31 March 2007)
• Belgium Maurice Cooreman (1 November 2008 – 10 February 2009)
• Ghana Herbert Addo (25 June 2009 – 1 April 2010)
• Serbia Bogdan Korak (5 November 2010 – 26 August 2011)
• Ghana Maxwell Konadu (2011–12)
• Ghana Mas-Ud Didi Dramani (2012–14)
• Ghana David Duncan (2014–16)
• Ghana Michael Osei (2016)
• Croatia Zdravko Logarušić(2017)
• Britain Steven Polack (May, 2017)
• Ghana Paa Kwesi Fabin (2018)
• Ghana Charles Akonnor(1 Oct 2018 – July 2019)
• Norway Kjetil Zachariassen (July 2019 – December 2019)
• Ghana Maxwell Konadu ( December 2019 – December 2020)
• Ghana Abdul Gazale (February 2021 – March 2021) (Interim)
• POR Mariano Barreto(March 2021 – September 2021)
• Ghana Prosper Narteh Ogum(September 2021 – August 2022)
• Burkina Faso Seydou Zerbo (2022 - 2023)
• Ghana Prosper Narteh Ogum (2023 - 2025)
• 🇬🇭 Abdul-Karim Zito (2025–present)

Seasons

• 2020–21 Asante Kotoko S.C. season
• 2022–23 Asante Kotoko S.C. season

References

Notes

References

1. Sagoe, Kweku. (12 September 2013). "Revealed: Asante Kotoko releases squad numbers for season 2016/2017".
2. "Africa's club of the Century".
3. "History Asante Kotoko". FIFA.
4. "Classic club: The great Porcupines of Africa". [[FIFA]].
5. (27 April 2016). "Fifteen Years After Africa's Deadliest Stadium Disaster, Not Much Has Changed".
6. (2020-01-14). "GFA bans Kotoko from Baba Yara Sports Stadium".
7. (21 January 2020). "Kotoko fined GH¢20k, to play 3 home games behind closed doors".
8. (19 July 2011). "Kotoko seal Sunderland partnership agreement". [[BBC Sport]].
9. (31 January 2002). "P.V. Obeng chairs Kotoko board".
10. (29 March 2011). "New kits sponsorship deal in the offing". Asante kotoko Fc Online.
11. (18 March 2013). "Kotoko to get Fabulous Arena in mega rlg deal". newsbcc.
12. "SAFC partnership with Ghana giants". [[Sunderland AFC]].
13. "#FillGPLCenters: Low attendance in the local league financially affecting NSA - Ashanti NSA boss - MyJoyOnline".
14. https://ghanasportspage.com/2022/02/18/the-super-clash-effect-stadium-attendance-capacity-for-the-hearts-vs-asante-kotoko-tie-increased/
15. (19 July 2013). "Asantehene urges Kotoko to hold congress". allsports ghana.
16. "Introduction – Ashanti Region". [[Government of Ghana]].
17. (8 August 2013). "World's top 10 gold deposits". mining.com.
18. "Gold – Visualized in Bullion Bars". demonocracy.info.
19. "Singaporean-based sportswear company Kubba proposes sponsorship package to Kotoko". africatopsports.com.
20. (16 November 2020). "Asante Kotoko signs partnership agreement with Hisense".
21. (2 November 2018). "OFFICIAL: Asante Kotoko sign kit sponsorship deal with Strike". Ghana Soccer Net..
22. (2014). "Asante Kotoko project to take off". ModernGhana.
23. (2014). "Players barred from driving to training grounds". Asante kotoko Fc.
24. "Asante Kotoko will be unbeatable in Africa soon". Goal.
25. (2013-06-20). "History and facts of the SWAG CUP".
26. (2021-08-10). "Check out all the trophies won by Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko".
27. (2019-02-15). "Swag Cup".
28. (5 August 2020). "A historical overview of Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG)".
29. (2015-12-02). "SWAG clears the air on the number of SWAG Cups Asante Kotoko have won".
30. (27 November 2019). "Ibrahim Sunday of Ghana made football history by becoming the first ever African footballer to appear in the Bundesliga in Germany.".
31. (20 May 2020). "GFA Technical Director Job: Malik Jabir feels slighted by interview snub".
32. "James Kwesi Appiah {{!}} Defender".
33. (2010-08-12). "Jordan Opoku is new Kotoko captain".
34. (4 March 2015). "Asante Kotoko substantive captain appointed".
35. (2019-07-30). "Felix Annan to be appointed new Asante Kotoko captain".
36. Graham, Susu. (7 October 2021). "GPL: Ismail Ganiyu announced as new Kotoko captain".
37. (15 September 2023). "Kotoko announces new club captain".
38. (2024-06-21). "Danlad leaves Kotoko a veteran, but not quite a legend - MyJoyOnline".
39. "MR. JUSTICE GEORGE MILLS-ODOI C.o.v (1916–1988)".
40. "Malik Jabir – Soccer Player – Kotoko".
41. Appiah, Samuel Ekow Amoasi. (23 January 2020). "Coaching Kotoko Is Difficult Than Black Stars, Says Former Ghana Coach".
42. "Ten Things About Ghana Coach Kwesi Appiah You Do Not Know".
43. (27 October 2006). "Kotoko appoints Turkish coach".
44. (10 February 2009). "Kotoko appoints new coach".
45. "Kotoko beat Hearts to break 16-year jinx".
46. (26 August 2011). "Kotoko deny Korak exit reports – admit talks underway".
47. (30 November 2001). "Konadu unhappy to lose Toure". GhanaWeb.
48. (11 July 2019). "former kotoko coach Didi Dramani talks about his aspirations for Ghana football".
49. "Dramani for Coach of the year".
50. "Coach David Duncan unveiled as Asante Kotoko coach – MyJoyOnline.com".
51. Nketsia, Benjamin. "Michael Osei: We underrated New Edubiase {{!}} Citi Sport".
52. (2018-02-23). "Kotoko have changed 13 coaches in the past 10 years, here is the list".
53. "Asante Kotoko sack Steven Polack".
54. (2018-02-26). "Kotoko appoint Paa Kwesi Fabin".
55. Laryea, Beatrice. "Photos: Coach Akonnor unveiled, introduced to Kotoko players".
56. "Kotoko appoint Kjetil Zachariassen as new head coach".
57. Sarbah, Peter. "Maxwell Konadu: I'll make Kotoko great again".
58. "Asante Kotoko appoint Abdul Gazale as head coach – MyJoyOnline.com".
59. Teye, Prince Narkortu. (26 March 2021). "Official: Former Ghana coach Barreto named Asante Kotoko head coach". Goal.
60. Mensah, Rita. (19 September 2021). "Prosper Narteh Ogum: Former WAFA coach appointed new Asante Kotoko head coach".
61. (2023-07-22). "Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum reappointed as head coach of Asante Kotoko".