Asante Kotoko, one of Ghana's most storied football clubs, is facing criticism from former Ghanaian international Augustine Ahinful, who believes that several players currently on the team are not up to the standards expected of the club.
Despite a recent streak of three matches without defeat, Kotoko has experienced a downturn in results during the second half of the Ghana Premier League season. This has led to widespread disappointment among fans and observers, who feel that the team is underperforming.
Ahinful, speaking as a technical expert in an interview with Graphic Sports, expressed his concerns about the quality of players in Kotoko's squad. He highlighted issues with recruitment, stating that some players lack the pedigree to represent a club of Kotoko's stature.
“Yes, of course. I can say that some players within the current Asante Kotoko setup are not supposed to be there. I can say that as a technical person. Because Kotoko is Kotoko, and from what I’ve seen some of the players do not deserve to play for the club,” he began.
He remarked, "Some players within the current Asante Kotoko setup are not supposed to be there. I can say that as a technical person. Because Kotoko is Kotoko, and from what I’ve seen, some of the players do not deserve to play for the club."
“When I did some background checks on the players I realised some are second division players because you see a player and you ask where he is coming from. Which team did he play for before joining Kotoko? And you do the checks and you realize he was playing for either a first-division or second-division somewhere.
Ahinful emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards at a club like Kotoko, noting that not every successful player in lower divisions can seamlessly transition to a club of Kotoko's caliber.
“But this is Asante Kotoko we are talking about, and let’s not forget that not every good player that you see at maybe Bechem or other places can come to Kotoko and be successful.”
As Kotoko prepares to face Berekum Chelsea in their next game, the pressure is on for the team to prove its worth and continue its recent unbeaten run amid mounting criticism.
