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Asante Kotoko S.C.

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Asante Kotoko Sporting Club, simply known as Asante Kotoko, is a professional football club founded on 31 August 1935 and based in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Nicknamed the Porcupine Warriors, they compete in the Ghana Premier League and play their home matches at the Baba Yara Stadium in Amakom, Kumasi.

Asante Kotoko
Full nameAsante Kotoko Sporting Club
Nickname(s)Porcupine Warriors
Founded31 August 1935; 89 years ago (1935-08-31)
GroundBaba Yara Sports Stadium
Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana
Capacity40,528
OwnerOtumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II
ChairmanBoard Members lead by Kwasi Appiah
ManagerDr. Prosper Nartey Ogum
LeagueGhana Premier League
2023–246th of 18
Websitehttps://scasantekotoko.com
Current season

They have won the league a record 24 times[1] and the CAF Champions League twice and were adjudged the African club of the century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).[2]

History

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Asantehene King Prempeh II, is the first life patron of Asante Kotoko greeting Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Harold Macmillan, January 1960

Early years

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The foundation of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Sporting Club was laid by 13 young Ashanti men led by a young driver, Mr. Kwasi Kumah, ably supported by L.Y. Asamoah an electrician.[3][4] Mr. Kwasi Kumah, a native of Nyankyerenease near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, was a chauffeur to an English man and military officer, a Colonel Ross.[3][4] Kwasi Kumah nurtured the idea of forming a football team when he watched an exciting football match.[3][4] When Colonel Ross returned home for good, Kumah bought a set of jerseys to start his football team.[3][4] With co-operation from his good friend, L.Y.Asamoah, he formed the Ashanti United Football Club in 1926.[3][4] Five years later the team was renamed Kumasi Titanics.[3][4] The team was really handicapped because most of the players worked in government organizations like the Prisons and Railways and had been transferred from Kumasi.[3][4] "Kumasi Titanics" did not find enough luck in their new name and in 1934, they adopted a more powerful name, Mighty Atoms.[3][4] Still the club did not see much progress and in 1935, Mr J.S.K. Frimpong, popularly called Teacher Frimpong, then a teacher of the Kumasi Government School who had all the time shown interest in the club, organized some men from his school and proposed a change of name from "Kumasi Titanics" to Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club.[3][4] Permission had to be obtained from the Asantehene (King of the Kingdom of Ashanti) because the name "Kotoko", meaning "Porcupine" is the official symbol of the Ashanti nation.[3] The Asantehene, Nana Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, became the first life patron of the club.[3] Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club was subsequently formally founded in 1935.[3][4]

Asante Kotoko's emblem features the "Porcupine", displaying an inbuilt arsenal of sharp spikes for use when attacked by an enemy.[4]

Tragedy

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The Accra Sport Stadium disaster occurred at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra, Ghana on 9 May, 2001. Ghana's most successful football teams played that day, the Accra Hearts of Oak (The Phobians) Sporting Club and the Asante Kotoko. Accra had two late goals and a referee would call 2–1 Accra, resulting in disappointed Kotoko fans throwing plastic seats and bottles onto the pitch. The police responded by firing tear gas into the trapped crowd. Panic and a stampede ensued as fans tried to escape. After the hour-long ordeal, it was found that 117 deaths resulted from compressive asphyxia and 10 fans died from trauma.[5]

In January 2020, the team was banned from the Baba Yara stadium temporarily, after violent reactions by supporters led to a fan being hit by a rubber bullet fired by the police. The fans were seen in various footages, throwing projectiles onto the pitch, because they were displeased with a refereeing decision. This happened in a match that they played against Berekum Chelsea.[6] A GFA ruling, fined the club 20,000 Ghana cedis and the next three games home games were played behind closed doors.[7]

2000s

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In July 2011, Asante Kotoko and English Premier League club Sunderland signed a partnership agreement, which will see Sunderland offering practical support and advice in youth coaching, player development, fitness and medical matters as well as football business strategy to Asante Kotoko.[8] In January 2002, P V Obeng was appointed as the board chairman of the Board of Directors of the club.[9]

Colours

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The colours of Asante Kotoko depict the colours on both the national flag (ethnic flag) and national emblem of Ashanti with the colours of red, yellow and green used on the Asante Kotoko first (home) kit shirts and shorts while the colours white and red are used on the Asante Kotoko second alternative kit shirts and shorts; and in 2011, Asante Kotoko re-introduced third alternative kit of black, yellow and green colours worn in the late 1980s.[10]

Kits evolution

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1st Colours
 
 
 
 
 
 
2nd Colours
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2nd Alt.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3rd Colours

Emblem

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The porcupine on the National Emblem of the Kingdom of Ashanti; The "Porcupine Warriors" is the Asante Kotoko nickname.

Asante Kotoko's emblem symbolizes the national emblem of the Kingdom of Ashanti (Kingdom of Asante) and Ashanti with the colours black, green and yellow enclosing the colours on the national flag and ethnic flag of the Kingdom of Asante and Asante Kotoko's emblem [also represents the national emblem of the Ashanti people and the Ashanti nation (who are more like the Catalan people and Catalonia); the Asante Kotoko emblem features a remarkably threatening looking porcupine and the motto "Ashanti Twi: Kum apem a, apem beba", which means "If you kill a thousand, a thousand more will come".[4]

Ground

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Kumasi Asante Kotoko SC home ground is the Baba Yara Stadium

Asante Kotoko's home stadium is the Baba Yara Stadium located in the capital city of Ashanti, Kumasi. With a 40,528 capacity, Baba Yara Stadium which was built in 1957, is the largest stadium in Ghana. The stadium is Baba Yara, after a former Ghanaian Footballer who played for Kotoko between 1955 and 1961. In 2010, it was reported that as part of an endorsement by Rlg Communications that Asante Kotoko will get a multi-purpose stadium called the Rlg Fabulous Arena.[11]

Support

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Asante Kotoko is the 6th biggest football team and professional club in Continental Africa and arguably the biggest club in Ghana; Asante Kotoko has a speculated ten million (10,000,000) followers and in the year 2011, Asante Kotoko and Sunderland AFC respective club executive Chairmen's engaged in strategic and positive discussions on both clubs collaborating.[12] The Asante Kotoko strategical partnership sees Sunderland of the Premier League sharing its coaching and business expertise with Asante Kotoko, offering practical support and advice in youth coaching, player development, fitness and medical matters and football business strategy.[12] Kotoko in turn works closely with Sunderland AFC to help the Premier League club build and grow its brand in the emerging African territory and geographic Africa.[12]

Ownership

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Club financing and club endorsements

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The owner and life patron of Asante Kotoko sports club is the Asantehene, King of the Ashantis/ Asantes of Ghana, Osei Tutu II.[13] The GH150 million per annum (per season) Asante Kotoko squad players salary wage bill for 2015 and further additional GH105 million per annum (per season) squad players transfer wage bill for 2015 is financed from the large and industrial mineral rich economy of Ashanti with Ashanti being the 2nd largest producer of theobroma cacao and cocoa in the world as most of the world's cocoa is grown in Ashanti.[14]

 
Asante Kotoko president and owner; King Asantehene of Ashanti, Osei Tutu II.

Ashanti is a top-10 producer of gold bars and gold bullions in the world as Ashanti is also a major site of the world's gold-mining industry with Ashanti being home to the world's 10th largest producing gold mine on Earth; The Obuasi Gold Mine.[15] The 1 ton of Gold bars and Gold (Bullion) is worth $64.3 Million dollars (US$64,300,000) at $2000/oz.[16]

Asante Kotoko's diverse endorsements portfolio includes technology corporations Interplast, Smart TV, Iei and giant Rlg Communications; financial institution Fidelity Bank; water company Everpure limited, Peppis Pizza limited, and Vit's Noodles limited; telecommunication companies Millicom and MTN Group; mass media company SportsPro Media limited; worldwide major electricity generation and electricity construction incorporation Symbion Power; and Singaporean kit manufacturer Kubba.[17]

Partnerships

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In November 2020 a partnership agreement was signed between the club and Hisense Ghana. This made Hisense, an electronics manufacturer, the club's official electronics partner from 2020 until 2023.[18]

Sponsorship

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Asante Kotoko Kit Manufacturers
Start End Name
2008 2011 Lotto
2011 2012 Erreà
2012 2014 Puma SE
2014 2018   Kubba[17]
2019 2020 Strike[19]
2020 Erreà

Training facility

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Asante Kotoko Adako-Jachie Training Complex

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Ashanti's Kumasi Asante Kotoko Squad Coach (Bus).

Asante Kotoko training ground and training facilities headquarters, are located in the capital city of the Ashanti nation, Kumasi.[20] There is ongoing construction of the "Asante Kotoko Adako-Jachie Training Complex" which when completed in 2015 will consist of three training pitches, one artificial grass pitch, multi-functional sports hall, Olympic-size swimming pool and a 20-bedroom camping facility for Asante Kotoko at Adako Jachie suburb situated on the outskirts of Kumasi.[20] The "Asante Kotoko Adako-Jachie Training Complex"; three training pitches and the 20 bedroom facility will come with a large multi-operational health club and gym, weights for strength training and physical fitness area, a massage unit, dressing rooms, the technical staff's and coaches' office, as well as a conference room with screening facilities and offices for the Asante Kotoko Chief operating officers (Operations Director) and the technical bench.[20]

Whereas one of the training pitches will go to the Asante Kotoko reserve and youth squad; the remaining two other training pitches will be used by the Asante Kotoko professional senior squad.[20] The Asante Kotoko executive board committee revealed that 10 percent of contributions to the Asante Kotoko development project fund would be used to fund the "Asante Kotoko Adako-Jachie Training Complex" and mega training facility.[20] The Asante Kotoko executive board intimated that the Asante Kotoko Owner and Life Patron of Asante Kotoko, Asantehene King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II of the Ashanti nation is to provide both financial and moral support to the "Asante Kotoko Adako-Jachie Training Complex" and mega training facility construction project.[20] The Asante Kotoko squad players are driven from the Asante Kotoko stadium on the Asante Kotoko squad coach (bus) manufactured by Tata Motors of conglomerate Tata Group to the training headquarters of Asante Kotoko.[21]

Situated at the headquarters of Asante Kotoko is also the Youth academy of Asante Kotoko, in which system and program focuses on the Asante Kotoko youth squad players development as footballers. Former products of the Asante Kotoko Youth academy development program and system include Karim Abdul Razak, Tony Yeboah, Isaac Vorsah, Samuel Inkoom, Godwin Antwi.[22]

Current squad

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As of 15 April 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   CMR Moise Pouaty
3 MF   GHA Enock Morrison
4 DF   GHA Yussif Mubarik
5 MF   GHA Justice Blay
6 DF   GHA Sherif Mohammed
8 MF   GHA Richard Boadu
9 FW   UGA Steven Mukwala
10 FW   CMR Georges Mfegue
11 FW   BRA Matheus Medeiros
12 MF   GHA Emmanuel Sarkodie
13 MF   GHA Clinton Opoku
14 FW   GHA Isaac Oppong
15 DF   GHA Andrews Kwadwo Appau
16 GK   GHA Ibrahim Danlad
17 DF   GHA Charles Owusu
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 MF   GHA Richmond Lamptey
20 MF   GHA Dickson Afoakwa
21 MF   GHA Patrick Asmah
24 DF   GHA Samuel Appiah
25 DF   GHA Maxwell Agyemang
26 DF   GHA Sherif Mohammed
27 MF   GHA Ernest Osei Poku
28 MF   GHA Shadrack Addo
29 MF   GHA Nicholas Osei Bonsu
32 MF   GHA Rashid Nortey
33 GK   GHA Fredrick Asare
37 DF   GHA Mohammed Alhassan
38 FW   GHA Solomon Safo-Taylor
40 MF   CIV Serge Zeze
— FW   NGA Clinton Eleto

Honours

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Domestic

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Other GFA National Titles

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  • SWAG Cup: 16[23][24][25][26][27]
    • 1981, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998 (shared), 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008
  • Ghana Telecom Gala: 3
    • 1999–2000, 2001, 2005 (record)
  • Ghana Top Four Cup: 3
    • 2003, 2007 (record)
  • President's Cup: 8
    • 1973, 1984, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2019 (record)
  • GHALCA Special Cup: 3
  • Ghana Top Eight Cup: 3
  • Ghana Top Six Cup: 2
  • Independence Cup: 3
  • June 4 Cup: 1
  • 31 December Revolution Cup: 2

Continental

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Contributor: Bright Yeboah Taylor (Ghanaian Sports Historian)(KUMASI)

Performance in CAF competitions

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1995 – Quarter-finals
1997 – Second Round
2004 – Finalist
2008 – Group Stage
2019 – Group Stage
2020 – Playoffs round
CAF Clubs Rankings: Current 21st Century Top 6 – CAF overall ranking of African Clubs
CAF Football Team Points
1   Al-Ahly 91
2   Espérance 58
3   Étoile du Sahel 54
4   Zamalek 50
5   TP Mazembe 49
6   Asante Kotoko 44

Former footballers

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For details on former Asante Kotoko SC footballers see Category:Asante Kotoko S.C. players.

Club captains

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Head coaches

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Seasons

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Sagoe, Kweku (12 September 2013). "Revealed: Asante Kotoko releases squad numbers for season 2016/2017". Rok FM. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Africa's club of the Century". IFFHS. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "History Asante Kotoko". FIFA. Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Classic club: The great Porcupines of Africa". FIFA. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  5. ^ "Fifteen Years After Africa's Deadliest Stadium Disaster, Not Much Has Changed". Sports. 27 April 2016. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  6. ^ "GFA bans Kotoko from Baba Yara Sports Stadium". Graphic Online. 14 January 2020. Archived from the original on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Kotoko fined GH¢20k, to play 3 home games behind closed doors". Graphic Online. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Kotoko seal Sunderland partnership agreement". BBC Sport. 19 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  9. ^ "P.V. Obeng chairs Kotoko board". GhanaWeb. 31 January 2002. Archived from the original on 14 September 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  10. ^ "New kits sponsorship deal in the offing". Asante kotoko Fc Online. 29 March 2011. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  11. ^ "Kotoko to get Fabulous Arena in mega rlg deal". newsbcc. 18 March 2013. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  12. ^ a b c "SAFC partnership with Ghana giants". Sunderland AFC. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  13. ^ "Asantehene urges Kotoko to hold congress". allsports ghana. 19 July 2013. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  14. ^ "Introduction – Ashanti Region". Government of Ghana. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  15. ^ "World's top 10 gold deposits". mining.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  16. ^ "Gold – Visualized in Bullion Bars". demonocracy.info. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  17. ^ a b "Singaporean-based sportswear company Kubba proposes sponsorship package to Kotoko". africatopsports.com. Retrieved 6 January 2014.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ "Asante Kotoko signs partnership agreement with Hisense". Graphic Online. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  19. ^ "OFFICIAL: Asante Kotoko sign kit sponsorship deal with Strike". Ghana Soccer Net. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  20. ^ a b c d e f "Asante Kotoko project to take off". ModernGhana. 2014. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  21. ^ "Players barred from driving to training grounds". Asante kotoko Fc. 2014. Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  22. ^ "Asante Kotoko will be unbeatable in Africa soon". Goal. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  23. ^ "History and facts of the SWAG CUP". GhanaWeb. 20 June 2013. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  24. ^ "Check out all the trophies won by Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko". GhanaWeb. 10 August 2021. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  25. ^ "Swag Cup". Swag. 15 February 2019. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  26. ^ "A historical overview of Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG)". Footballghana. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  27. ^ "SWAG clears the air on the number of SWAG Cups Asante Kotoko have won". GhanaSoccernet. 2 December 2015. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  28. ^ Kesse (27 November 2019). "Ibrahim Sunday of Ghana made football history by becoming the first ever African footballer to appear in the Bundesliga in Germany". Ghanaian Museum. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  29. ^ "GFA Technical Director Job: Malik Jabir feels slighted by interview snub". Footy-GHANA.com. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  30. ^ "James Kwesi Appiah | Defender". Asante Kotoko SC. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  31. ^ a b "Jordan Opoku is new Kotoko captain". GhanaSoccernet. 12 August 2010. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  32. ^ "Asante Kotoko substantive captain appointed". News Ghana. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  33. ^ "Felix Annan to be appointed new Asante Kotoko captain". GhanaWeb. 30 July 2019. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  34. ^ Graham, Susu (7 October 2021). "GPL: Ismail Ganiyu announced as new Kotoko captain". Citi Sports Online. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  35. ^ a b "Kotoko announces new club captain". Asante Kotoko SC. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  36. ^ "Danlad leaves Kotoko a veteran, but not quite a legend - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  37. ^ "MR. JUSTICE GEORGE MILLS-ODOI C.o.v (1916–1988)". justice-millsodoi memory-of. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  38. ^ "Malik Jabir – Soccer Player – Kotoko". GhanaWeb. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  39. ^ Appiah, Samuel Ekow Amoasi (23 January 2020). "Coaching Kotoko Is Difficult Than Black Stars, Says Former Ghana Coach". Modern Ghana. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  40. ^ "Ten Things About Ghana Coach Kwesi Appiah You Do Not Know". Modern Ghana. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  41. ^ "Kotoko appoints Turkish coach". Archived from the original on 8 November 2006. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  42. ^ "Kotoko appoints new coach". Archived from the original on 21 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  43. ^ "Kotoko beat Hearts to break 16-year jinx". Ghana News Agency. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  44. ^ "Kotoko deny Korak exit reports – admit talks underway". GhanaSoccernet. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  45. ^ "Konadu unhappy to lose Toure". Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  46. ^ "former kotoko coach Didi Dramani talks about his aspirations for Ghana football". Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  47. ^ "Dramani for Coach of the year". Ghana News Agency. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  48. ^ "Coach David Duncan unveiled as Asante Kotoko coach – MyJoyOnline.com". MyJoyonline. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  49. ^ Nketsia, Benjamin. "Michael Osei: We underrated New Edubiase | Citi Sport". Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  50. ^ a b "Kotoko have changed 13 coaches in the past 10 years, here is the list". Pulse Ghana. 23 February 2018. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  51. ^ "Asante Kotoko sack Steven Polack". Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  52. ^ "Kotoko appoint Paa Kwesi Fabin". Citi 97.3 FM – Relevant Radio. Always. 26 February 2018. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  53. ^ Laryea, Beatrice. "Photos: Coach Akonnor unveiled, introduced to Kotoko players". Graphic SPORTS. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  54. ^ "Kotoko appoint Kjetil Zachariassen as new head coach". MyJoyonline. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  55. ^ Sarbah, Peter. "Maxwell Konadu: I'll make Kotoko great again". Graphic SPORTS. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  56. ^ "Asante Kotoko appoint Abdul Gazale as head coach – MyJoyOnline.com". Myjoyonline. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  57. ^ Teye, Prince Narkortu (26 March 2021). "Official: Former Ghana coach Barreto named Asante Kotoko head coach". Goal. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  58. ^ Mensah, Rita (19 September 2021). "Prosper Narteh Ogum: Former WAFA coach appointed new Asante Kotoko head coach". Citi Sports Online. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
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Achievements
Preceded by Champions of Africa
1970–71 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Champions of Africa
1983–84 		Succeeded by
Preceded by African Cup Winners' Cup
Runner up: Asante Kotoko
 
Winner: Wydad Casablanca
 
2002–03 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
 CAF Confederation Cup
Runner up: Asante Kotoko
 
Winner: Hearts of Oak
 
2004–05 		Succeeded by
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