On this day 4 February 1962 (Exactly 57 years ago) Nana Osei Yaw, then Kyidomhene of Kumasi traditional area was elected as chairman of Asante Kotoko, he succeed Samuel John Kwame Frimpong “Teacher Frimpong” …the man who gave the name Asante Kotoko to the club 27 years earlier.
This happened after Frimpong and his executives resigned en bloc…
BACKGROUND: It would be recalled that in one of my daily series, I mentioned that on January 19, 1962, a number of Asante Kotoko players declared that they wanted a change in the management of the Club.
On January 20, 1962, a delegation led by Wilberforce Mfum handed over a document to the Director of Sports, Mr Ohene Djan, setting out the reasons why they considered change necessary. The delegation added that, if the Central Organisation of Sports (C.O.S) failed to take the necessary action, a number of active players might refuse to play for Kotoko thus preventing Kotoko from continuing to take part in the league.
In a statement issued by the Director of Sports at the players’ request, the Director said that it would not be in the interest of Ghana sports to encourage confusion and misunderstanding among the rank and file of Asante Kotoko Club. ” I have, therefore, directed that Mr A. E. Sampson, Deputy Administrative Finance and Functions Officer the C.O.S. stationed in Kumasi, should take over from the present Executive of the Club, in consultation with the players, and set up, as a matter of urgency, an interim management Committee to administer the affairs of the Club pending investigations into the allegations,” Mr Ohene Djan concluded.
On January 21, 1962, the Central Organisation of Sports appointed a committee to probe the allegations of mal-administration made against the Executive Committee of the Club. The members of the Committee were: Mr T. B. Maison, who was then the Administrative Secretary of the C.O.S., Mr H. Peter Swaniker, an Accra based Barrister, Mr Moro Lafia, Superintended of Police, C. I. D., Mr F. K. Tetteh, a chartered accountant of the Bank of Ghana and Mr A.E. Sampson of the C. O. S., Kumasi.
The following persons representing the interest of Kotoko players were to help the Committee: J. A. Yankson of the Farmers’ Council, Kumasi, Nana Osei Yaw, Kyidomhene, N. Y. B. Addae, a Kumasi Barrister, Yaw Attafua Gyimah and Wilberforce Mfum.
The terms of reference of the Committee were:
(1) To investigate complaints of the regular players of the Club and to report whether such complaints constituted mal-administration and bad leadership, and
(2) to determine whether such complaints were capable of confusing and upsetting the ordinary members of the Club and to recommend accordingly.
But Kwame Frimpong had no timer and patience to submit to Ohene Djan’s probe committee, and he resigned with the entire Executive on January 27, 1962. The Director of Sports was compelled to call of the of the probe committee which was due to start at the Kumasi Sports Stadium the following day.
Following his resignation, Nana Osei Yaw was elected as his successor on this day 4 February 1962.
It was rather unfortunate that on the very Sunday Nana Osei Yaw was elected Chairman, Kotoko shockingly suffered its worst defeat of the season at the hands of the bottom of the table club , Adansi United, who beat them by a lone goal — an incident that was so ominous and was indicative of bad times ahead of the club. A few months later, another shocking defeat was in store, for Kotoko were again eliminated for the second time in the history of Ghana Football from the National Cup competition by Brong Ahafo United who beat them by three goals to two — another unforgettable disaster.
In June, 1962, Kotoko lost three nil to West Ham United – the English club and 3-4 to Flamingo of Brazil.
The fourth shock it had within this short period was the unexpected resignation by the newly appointed Chairman, Nana Osei Yaw, on July 10, 1962 . “Many duties make it impossible for me to perform the duties of Chairman to the fullest advantage of the Club ” he explained.
His tenure of office as chairman was the shortest in Kotoko history.
On this day 4 February 1965 (Exactly 54 years ago) Former Ghanaian
Featherweight and Commonwealth (British Empire ) Lightweight title boxing champion, Sumoo Pappoe ‘Love’ Allotey defeated Mario Sitri of Italy in a Lightweight Contest at K. B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
On this day 4 February 1995(Exactly 24 years ago) Former WBA Welterweight Champion Ike Quartey TKOs Bobby Butters in a Super Welterweight Contest at the Palais des Sports, Castelnau-de-Guers, France.
On this day 4 February 2006 (Exactly 13 years ago) Alan Shearer became Newcastle United’s top scorer of all time, netting his 201st goal for the club, against Portsmouth at the St. James’ Park, beating Jackie Milburn’s 200-goal tally which had stood for 49 years.
He retired in April 2006 after scoring 206 times for the Magpies and 260 Premier League goals in total.
By George “Alan Green” Mahamah
