Asante Kotoko
Nzema Kotoko
Anwaa Kotoko (Damgobas)
Asante Kotoko did the unthinkable and ended Karela United dominance at the Crosby Awuah Memorial Park on matchday 13 of the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League.
The Porcupine Warriors broke a five-year unbeaten home record of Karela United at Aiyinese in the Nzema land.
Karela went unbeaten for 64 games from 2016 to 7 February 2021.
They won 62 out of the 64 games and drawn 2. It’s indeed historic.
The question we have asked is why Kotoko?
This is where it get interesting. The Asante’s and the Nzema people have a historical connection.
The Asante’s have two historic Allies in Dangomba’s and Nzema’s, In fact the Nzemas are referred to as Nzema Kotoko and Dagomba’s are also referred to as Anwaa Kotoko.
This is how the alliance between these two groups began. The Nzemas disapproved and protested against the Ashanti Empire, calling their war against the Fantis as uncalled for. This angered the Asante’s and they decided to attack the Nzemas.
The Nzemas were simple peasant farmers and fishermen. They had no weapons so they normally sharpened sticks to hunt animals for food and also to fight enemies who entered their territories. It is believed they derived the name Nzema from that practice: osenemaa (they sharpened sticks). When the Asante’s arrived with their weapons (guns) they found to their utmost surprise that the Nzemas were waiting to fight them with sharpened sticks. Very funny and ridiculous! If the Ashantis decided to shoot at them not a single Nzema fighter would be left.
The Asante warriors decided to lay down their weapons and rather forge a bond of friendship between the two states. The Ashantis admired the courage and improvisation of the Nzema people. They had two gifts for them. They informed the Chief that due to their courage, they were allowed to add Kotoko to their Nzema tribe and the Chief could also use the Otumfuo title.
Also on the football side, The early Asante Kotoko was mainly tribalistic in its composition and outlook and the only other tribe eligible for membership was Nzema. Some of the Nzema players to play for Kotoko were Aggrey from Adisadel College and Amihere from Achimota.
It is believed that Nzema Kotoko Football Club help Asante Kotoko to break the unbeaten run, based on the recent relationships between Nzema Kotoko (FC) and Karela United.
According to sources, Karela United’s decision to deny Nzema Kotoko’s request to use the Crosby Awuah Memorial Park also led to the fans of the aiding Kotoko to beat Karela as pay back.
You cannot overlook the impact of Johnson Smith and the three former players of Karela (Imoro Ibrahim, Ismail Ganiyu and Samuel Frimpong) Imoro and Ganiyu were on the score sheet for Karela the last time Kotoko visited Aiyinese. Interestingly Imoro who scored the opener for Kotoko in their 2-0 historic win, scored against Kotoko in 2018. The mastermind behind Kotoko’s win Johnson Smith, started the unbeaten run of Karela from Division 1 through to the Premier League before he joined Kotoko.
Clearly if there is any Football Club destined to break the home invincibility of Karela, it’s an Ally Asante Kotoko. Indeed one good turn deserves another, the good gesture from their forefathers has finally paid off.
Fabulous !!!!!!
By Ohene-Bampoe Brenya
