Revered former Asante Kotoko centre back, Awal Mohammed has charged supporters of Asante Kotoko to attend the club’s matches, fill the stadium or hold their peace over the club’s recent poor performance in the ongoing premier league.
The fans of the record Ghana Premier League winners have grown out of patience with the technical handlers of the club following the recent fleet of losses in the Premier League, with some indignant fans calling for the sack of the head coach, Prosper Narteh Ogum.
The Kumasi based Premier League giants have failed to win a match in the premier league in their last six (6) matches, having loss five and and drawn one, picking just 1 out of the possible 18 points. In the premier league match day 25 fixture against Nsuatreman FC last Thursday at their own backyard at the Baba Yara stadium, the team lost by 2-1, extending their winless streak to six. Fans registered stern displeasure at the players and the handlers, but Awal Mohammed has a different view.
According to the former defender, Asante Kotoko fans can only complain if they fill the stadium to the brim and give the players the needed cheers and yet, the players fail to deliver. He stated, that there is no big club in Africa that is performing at the top level without their supporters filling their stadium.
“There is no big team (club) in Africa here which plays a football match with the stadium empty. Go to Morocco [big club], Tanzania, South Africa, [big club in] Ethiopia, there is not team. You can’t even stand [the crowd]”, he told ghanasportspage.com.
“What I mean is, if you are playing against say, Bechem United, and their mini stadium is full, it’s just like Kotoko playing in an empty stadium in Kumasi [Baba Yara stadium]. No disrespect for Bechem United, but it’s a fact. But if Bechem United should come to the Kumasi stadium and that cheering is not there, the Kotoko team will find it difficult [to play]”, he explained.
Asante Kotoko fans attendance during a CAF inter club competition in Kumasi seasons ago.
Awal recounted how vociferous cheers from Asante Kotoko fans created intimidating atmosphere which made it difficult for visiting teams, even some Kotoko players who were new to such numbers.
“I remember [during my time] we were coming to play against Accra Hearts of Oak, one of our players, as soon as we came out of the tunnel the noise the Kotoko fans made, he started panicking and was like hey, Awal! I had to psyche him else he couldn’t have played the match”, he recounted.
The former ASEC Mimosas centre back referenced the current poor run of form being experienced by London based Premier League side Chelsea, which has not deterred their fans from attending games. He urged Asante Kotoko fans to emulate same, if they want to have the moral right to complain about lack of performance from the players.
“A team like Chelsea [in England] loses matches often this season, to the point that even the shock could cause miscarriage of a pregnant woman if care is not taken, they lose both home and away matches but any day they play in the league the supporters to to the stadium. The supporters are committed to the club; the team is for them”, he referenced.
Awal maintained, that the filling of the stadium to the fullest by the fans plays 60% of winning matches and players play 40%, a reason why filling the stadium is key.
“I always says this; the Kotoko team is not for we the players; some time ago I was playing for Kotoko, today I’m no more there, sometime ago [Daniel] Nii Adjei was there but today he’s no more there, but the same supporters who were there some time ago, today they are still there. So if you say you won’t go to the stadium [to watch the matches] then you are the one killing the team, you are suppressing the spirit of the team”.
“The moment supporters fill the stadium and chanting, as a player you gain different level of confidence. If you play for a big club, you the player you contribute [play= 40% and the supporters [fans] play 60%. Kotoko is the only club that when they lose then supporters say I won’t go to the stadium, you won’t go then who are you worrying? You won’t go to the stadium yet you are home listening to commentary, so who is the problem? Even the commentary can kill you [through heartbreak or otherwise], so go to the stadium no matter what to fill the stadium”.
Listen to what Awal Mohammed said during the interview with Sir Martin on Friday night in Ghanaian Language below:
