Investigate Taylor's kidnap to Kumasi

London (United Kingdom) - A London based Ghanaian football enthusiast Alhaji Tanko has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to investigate all circumstances leading to the sudden disappearance of the ‘terrible terror’ Charles Taylor to Kumasi to feature for Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

This is in view of allegations that Taylor was whisked to the Garden city through kidnapping and other rudimentary means. Tanko, who claims to be a Great Olympics die-hard, called for a justifiable measure to be applied against the perpetrator of the act if so proved.

Speaking to the GRi sports in a telephone interview, Tanko said having followed the Taylor impasse for sometime from his London base, he is convinced that the Ghanaian FA should stretch its arm further than the evidence before it to ensure its action on the matter upholds the professionalism being trumpeted these days in our football. He condemned a similar act of kidnapping of Kotoko’s young Kwadwo Poku purportedly, to enable him play for Kumasi King Faisal.

According to him, a stringent action on the part of the FA against such unacceptable behaviours would not only offer protection to future players against crude methods of poaching them, often times against their freewill, but will also bring sanity into the player transfer market. “The alleged kidnap of the player, if it is true, is an indictment on any effort on our part in running civilised football in the country. It is dangerous and should not be encouraged. I think Ben Koufie and his men should act appropriately to give football a new face in the country,” Tanko told GRi.

He cited that strong disciplinary measure of the EUFA governing body against conducts of personalities like Sir Alex Ferguson and El Hadj Diouf are part of the hallmarks which have contributed to the high standard observed in the European game. “There is no need for Africa, and for that matter Ghana, to slack,” he reasoned.

Currently, is a stand-off between the two most glamorous Ghanaian clubs, Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak, over the 2002 best player as both Hearts and Kotoko claim to have concluded justifiable deals with Taylor for him to don their jersey in the upcoming season. While Hearts argue that they have renewed Taylor’s stay with them with sealed 3-year contract, Kotoko are claiming a two-year contract with him arguing that the contract of Taylor to Hearts is bogus.