Ghanaian football legend Rev. Osei Kofi has shared a surprising story about how Asante Kotoko’s management once rejected an offer from a Malaysian team to construct a stadium for the club in Kumasi.
According to Rev. Osei, the proposal was brought forward by former Kotoko officials Opoku Nti and Kennedy Agyapong, who lobbied for the Malaysian team to build the stadium and name it after their brand. However, the idea was ultimately turned down by the club’s leadership at the time.
In an interview with Kafui Dey, the 1965 AFCON winner expressed his disappointment over the decision, comparing it to how English Premier League club Arsenal secured their state-of-the-art Emirates Stadium through a sponsorship deal.
“Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium wasn’t built by the people of London; it was financed by the Emirates, and that’s why it bears their name,” Rev. Osei explained. “A similar opportunity was presented to Kotoko.
Opoku Nti and Kennedy Agyapong brought in a Malaysian team that wanted to build a stadium for Kotoko and name it after their brand, but the management rejected the offer.” The revered former player, however, did not provide details about why the proposal was dismissed by the club’s leadership.
The revelation has sparked discussions about missed opportunities in Ghanaian football and how such decisions may have affected the development of the sport and its infrastructure.
