Legendary Black Stars player Osei Kofi has disclosed how Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s management once rejected an opportunity for a Malaysian company to build a stadium for the club in Kumasi.
According to Osei Kofi, the Malaysian team proposed constructing a state-of-the-art stadium in Kumasi, which would bear their brand’s name as part of the deal. The initiative, reportedly spearheaded by former Kotoko officials Opoku Nti and Kennedy Agyapong, was seen as a significant opportunity to modernize the club’s facilities.
However, speaking in an interview with Kafui Dey, the 1982 AFCON winner revealed that the idea was rejected by Kotoko’s management at the time. He expressed disappointment over the decision, comparing it to Arsenal’s successful partnership with Emirates, which led to the construction of the iconic Emirates Stadium in London.
“Arsenal’s stadium, Emirates, was built through a sponsorship deal—it wasn’t built by residents of London. That’s why it bears the name Emirates,” Osei Kofi said. “Opoku Nti and Kennedy brought in a Malaysian team that was ready to build a stadium for Kotoko and put their name on it, but the management refused.”
The legendary player did not specify the reasons behind the management’s decision to decline the proposal.
Osei Kofi’s remarks reignite discussions about missed opportunities in Ghanaian football and the need for better decision-making to ensure the growth and modernization of local clubs.
