Chief Executive officer of the Foundation, Maame Yaa Edusei, who is the daughter of the late B.K. Edusei expressed that the foundation will ensure those who played for the club at the time will receive the funds from the foundation.
Among dignitaries who graced the launch included the Chairman of the NPP, Freddy Blay, Former National Media Commission chairman, Kabral Amihere, and a host of former Asante Kotoko former players including Osei Kofi, Kofi Pare, Malik Jabir, etc.
The late Benjamin Kyem Edusei, affectionately called ‘B.K’ by the football fraternity, was one of the strongest pillars in the history of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club.
He loved football and footballers. He was a philanthropist extraordinary and long serving patron of Asante Kotoko.
He played football at an early age featuring for Kotoko Youngs alongside close friends like S.K. Mainoo, Kwame Adjei, Osei Asibey Mensah, F. A. Jantuah and Atta Mensah. Some of them later played for Asante Kotoko.
BK who hailed from Sesease, a small town near Asante Mampong became a very resourceful and enterprising businessman when he established the Asona Enterprises Ltd in Accra.
The company which was officially inaugurated in June 1959 dealt in building houses and road construction.
He was made the first Accra representative of Asante Kotoko and was reputed to be the originator of the poaching of top stars at the end of every football season.
Operating from his Ringway Estate residence in Accra he facilitated the recruitment of high profile players for Asante Kotoko with attractive monetary incentives.
Kotoko thus became a strong force both at home and abroad and before long the Porcupine Warriors had become champion club of Africa in 1970.
He bought cars with his personal resources for some of the players with the aim of motivating them.
BK always insisted on getting the best for Asante Kotoko. He was the first to employ foreign coaches for Asante Kotoko, namely Josef Ember and Kertez. He did that with strong support from Messrs S.K. Mainoo, E.K. Osei and Nana Kufuor the late Nkawiehene.
B.K. Edusei paid two years emoluments of the two foreign coaches.
He gave two of his houses in Tesano as camping places for the team each time they were in Accra.
He was the 1st Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asante Kotoko and remained so for a very long time till the late Asantehene Otumfuo Opoku Ware II conferred on him the title of life patron.
He was the main inspirer and major financier whilst Otumfuo was the spiritual head. He was also the man who resolved conflicts between Kotoko and other clubs.
His philanthropic gestures went beyond Kotoko. Many past international stars benefited from his abounding generosity.
In recognition of his contribution to football development the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) appointed him patron of the association.
The late BK’s great love for Kotoko was beyond explanation. Perhaps his own words may amply throw light on his love for the great club when he once said “When I die, the name Asante Kotoko will be found written in letters of Gold in my heart”.
