Asante Kotoko star forward Abdul Fatawu Safiu completed a four months loan move to Swedish second tie side Trelleborgs FF on Tuesday, and his manager and former player for Kotoko Yussif Chibsah says the move is an indication of travel opportunities for players who play for Kotoko.
According to Chibsah, Fatawu’s transfer was due to several factors, ultimately a motive by many that players who play for Asante Kotoko never develop to earn themselves contracts abroad. Many people, according to Chibsah, have held a wrong perception that players of the Porcupine Warriors either end their career prematurely after exiting the Baba Yara stadium or struggle to land lucrative offers from abroad as the club turns to stand in their ways when they want to leave, Chibsah implied.
“I believe it’s (Fatawu’s move) down to many factors”, Chibsah told Fox FM on Focal Sports. “At a point in time there is (SIC) a notion out there that if you play Kotoko you won’t travel, I feel that this is another information management is sending out there that if you come to Kotoko and you play and play well and the right offer comes they will allow you to go, so it’s not that it’s Kotoko that if you play you don’t travel. If you come and your performance impresses and the opportunity comes, sometimes it’s supply and demand, if there are clubs that want the type of player you are then there is a demand”, Chibsah explained.
Asante Kotoko hare playing in the CAF Champions League and one wonders why the club will choose to sell their stars who did so well for the club last season when they played in the Confederation Cup, but Chibsah has explained that management’s decision to sell those players is partly due to financial constraints.
“Kotoko also looked at the financial part, you know as they are playing the Africa (CAF Champions League) there is a cost involved so management considered all those factors to arrive at that decision (to sell Fatawu and other players)”, Chibsah explained.
Players like Kwame Bonsu Konte, former captain Amos Frimpong, Daniel Darkwah who played for the club during the Confederations Cup campaign last year have all left for other clubs abroad, while leading attacker Sogne Yacouba, Maxwell Baako, Richard Senanu have been on the sidelines due to injuries.
