GPL 2020/21: Has Kotoko failed its fans after missing the league title?

Being the record holders of the Ghana Premier League with 23 titles, it will certainly be disappointing to miss out on the 2020/21 title. Asante Kotoko were tipped as one of the clubs to win the league title judging from their massive recruitment and sponsorship drive of the Nana Yaw Amponsah led administration. Kotoko have now gone eight seasons without the Ghana Premier League trophy, losing out the just ended season’s title to rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak.

Tipped as one of the clubs to win the league title, the Porcupine Warriors stumbled in their quest to claim the title after losing to Hearts of Oak 1-0 at the Accra Sports Stadium in match day 31. Ever since that defeat to their arch rivals, subsequent games did not go as expected of the two time CAF Champions League winners. A Daniel Afriyie Barnieh solitary strike was the goal that separated the two big Ghana giants.

After failing to win the trophy, is it right to describe the Nana Yaw Amponsah led administration as failed ?. It is early days yet to begin casting aspersions on the young lawyer’s works after introducing innovations at the Porcupine Warriors. Amponsah has managed to turn things around with some good sponsorship drive to the club. Under his administration, Kotoko were able to attract kit and other big sponsors. One can talk about ERREA, the Italian kit manufacturers who have now partnered Kotoko and are doing very well.

Suppliers of electric appliances, HISENSE are equally on the club’s sponsors list and have equally come up with some juicy and mouthwatering plans for the club. Nana Yaw Amponsah’s administration has also been able to acquire CEEK, a platform where fans can view the activities of the club at a cost which goes a long way to help the club’s finances. These are but a few sponsors on the list of the nine times GHANA FA Cup holders.

The 2020/21 Ghana Premier League however did not go as expected because with all these sponsorships drive and the massive recruitment, Kotoko failed to win the trophy which the fans so much anticipated before the start of the league season. Like stated earlier above, the defeat to rivals, Hearts of Oak sort of derailed their title hopes. After the 1-0 defeat to Hearts of Oak in week 31, they went on to pick just one point from their last three games of the season. Their week 32 game against King Faisal ended 1-1 at the Len Clay Stadium. They lost 2-1 to Bechem United in their penultimate game which eventually gave the league title to rivals, Hearts of Oak who drew 1-1 with relegated Liberty Professionals. The season did not end well for them after losing 1-0 in their last game to Elmina Sharks who have now survived relegation.

Asante Kotoko must now wait for next season to fight for the Ghana Premier League title. The Porcupine Warriors will want to play in Africa and the only opportunity left for them to do so is the MTN FA Cup where they are in the quarter finals. Their rivals, Hearts of Oak are equally in the quarter finals and will eye a double this season. If they fail to win the FA Cup, fans will definitely not be happy with the Nana Yaw Amponsah led administration. However, should his administration be considered a failure if the club goes the whole season without a trophy?