Nana Yaw Amponsah, the Chief Executive Officer of Asante Kotoko, has provided insight into the circumstances that led FC Zurich to sign Hearts of Oak’s Daniel Afriyie Barnieh instead of Franck Mbella Etouga from Kotoko.
During a recent interview, Nana Yaw Amponsah revealed that FC Zurich expressed interest in signing the Cameroonian striker from Kotoko but wanted to do so during the January transfer window.
He explained that he informed Etouga about the offer, which would have materialized in January, and pleaded with him to stay and support Kotoko in their CAF Champions League campaign. However, the player declined the request.
“I practically begged him because I knew FC Zurich were interested in him but would only sign him in January,” Nana Yaw Amponsah shared with Oyerepa FM.
“I even pleaded with him, mentioning that if he helps us qualify for the group stages of the Champions League, his value would increase, and by January, a European team would come for him. I even mentioned the name of the team to him,” he added.
Nana Yaw Amponsah further stated that FC Zurich shifted their focus to Afriyie Barnieh after Etouga left Ghana.
“Zurich returned and opted to sign Afriyie Barnieh for a price that the Egyptian team couldn’t afford. If Mbella had been patient, he would have ended up in Europe instead of Egypt,” he explained.
Since joining El Masry, Franck Mbella Etouga has scored one goal in eight matches out of the 27 he has played in the Egyptian League so far.
