Players of Asante Kotoko are set to receive a financial package of GHC1000.00 for each goal they will score in the match against their CAF Confederation Cup opponents E.S Setif in the second preliminary stage of the competition this Sunday.
This is a pledge by a diasporan Circles Member of the club, Emmanuel Kwaw, a resident of China and an active member of Circle 0086 in China. According to him, what makes the fans of Asante Kotoko happy is to see the players scoring goals for the club in matches, and that is exactly what he will reward the players for.
In an exclusive interview with ghanasportspage.com, Emmanuel Kwaw explained that the amount will be a reward for the player who scores the goal and not a package for the entire team. In essence, should Asante Kotoko score two goals against E.S Setif, the players who will score the goals will be the sole beneficiaries of the fat bonus promise.
To recall, Mr Kwaw promised to pay GHC10,500.00 for the 21 players selected for Asante Kotoko’s Champions League preliminary stage first leg match against Mauritanian side FC Nouadhibou. At the time, he was prepared to pay the amount on a condition that Asante Kotoko are able to beat FC Nouadhibou by a margin of 3 goals unanswered. Unfortunately, the game ended in a 1-1 draw after the Nouadhibou, the home side, came from behind to equalize from the penalty spot. The Porcupine Warriors failed to meet the threshold and the promise was accordingly not delivered.
In the Confederation Cup clash with E.S Setif on Sunday however, Mr Kwaw is ready to pay the amount he’s promised whether or not Asante Kotoko wins the match.
“If you will recall when we were playing our other match (against FC Nouadhibou) I made a certain promise and this time I’ve seen that the goals are coming more, so once the goals are coming, for me as a Kotoko supporter here in China I’m very interested in that”, Emmanuel Kwaw referenced.
He went on to make his fresh promise and emphatically stated that this time, only goals are what he’ll be paying for and not the over all outcome of the game. “I’ll plead with them (the players) that if the goals will flow like this, then each player who will score a goal (against E.S Setif) I will give him GHC1000.00. It doesn’t matter the number of goals they’ll score, if one player scores 1 goal it is GHC1000.00, if Kotoko is able to score 10 goals that is GHC10,000.00 and I will pay to each player who scores. Even if one player scores 5 goals I will give him GHC5,000.00, so it is a promise I’m making to the players that they should continue to score”, he emphatically pledged.
Mr Kwaw further emphasised that he will pay regardless whether Kotoko wins or loses after scoring. “This one is not about win or lose or draw, I said they should score the goals for me, if only they score the goals, each goal will fetch GHC10,000.00 for the scorer from me. It is not whether they will lose or win, for me what matters to me are the goals, so if only they are able to score the goals, the money is ready, I will give it to them”, he emphasised.
Asante Kotoko will host Algerian side E.S. Setif in the first leg of the 2020/2021 CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round on Sunday, February 14, 2021 at the Accra Sports stadium. The return encounter has been scheduled for February 21, 2021 in Algeria.
