Charles Taylor Signs For Kotoko

The guessing game is over, and Charles Taylor, easily the most cherished Ghanaian footballer today has taken the fundamental decision to swap the rainbow jersey for the upcoming season.

Taylor, the shoeshine boy turned celebrated footballer ended weeks of dithering and anxiety when he signed a contract last Friday in Kumasi to play for Kumasi Asante Kotoko for two year.

It was a hard decision for Taylor to take as he had to stand his ground in the face of relentless pressure from Hearts officials and ‘sacrilegious’ offence of leaving Hearts to join Kotoko. But knowing very well that the club he wanted to play for three years ago was Kotoko but not Hearts, it was only a matter of time that Taylor would go where his heart really is.

It was undue political pressure more than anything else that forced Taylor three seasons ago to change direction after initially deciding to play for Kotoko. The moment of decision came for Sefwi-born. Taylor last Thursday when, accompanied by his manager, Badu, left for Kumasi at dawn on Friday to finalise all negotiations with the IMC of Kotoko.

Having been informed about Taylor’s departure from Accra, the IMC put everything in place to give the gifted footballer a fitting welcome. But it turned out to be something beyond Taylor’s own wildest imagination. Word had spread like a prairie fire in Oseikrom about Taylor’s coming, courtesy the FM stations in Kumasi.

So when Taylor and his manager arrived in Kumasi about 7:00am, the Garden City was already gay with expectation, with the fans ready to accord him a hero’s welcome.