As if jinxed Kumasi Asante Kotoko may soon find itself embroiled in another controversy following a threat by ex-striker, Lawrence Adjei to take the club to court over problems arising from his transfer to Spartak Moscow of Russia. Adjei is demanding that Kotoko pay him his enticement fee allegedly paid to Kotoko and which he claims he never received.

The former Asante Kotoko and Obuasi Goldfields striker who is currently in Germany in a letter through his lawyers, Messrs Lumor, Acheampong and Co. dated October 8, 2002 demanded that Kotoko issue him with a copy of the contract document which transferred him to Spartak Moscow.

According to the letter Adjei is currently not playing in Europe because he was loaned to a club in Germany and Spartak Moscow is now demanding a colossal sum from his new club as Spartak says they paid money to his former club when he was transferred.

Adjei's lawyers have threatened to take Kotoko to court should the club fail to respond to the demands within ten days of receipt of the letter.

Management of Kumasi Asante Kotoko has meanwhile expressed total indignation at Adjei's actions, saying that it cannot comprehend the rationale behind the player's demands.

Chief Executive Herbert Mensah told the Kotoko Express that Adjei was transferred to Spartak Moscow for an amount of $125,000 in June 2001 and he has not personally seen the player since.

Mensah stated all relevant documents pertaining to Adjei's transfer were lodged with the Ghana Football Association, which determined that the right thing had been done before issuing Spartak Moscow with an International Transfer Certificate (ITC).

The Kotoko boss said it was ridiculous for Adjei to accuse Kotoko of receiving his enticement fee because Kotoko was not the rightful recipient of that fee.

"We did not receive his enticement fee as we were not entitled to, and in any case it was none of our business. Issues of enticement fees are direct issues pertaining to player and new club, not player and old club," he stated.

Mensah said Spartak Moscow loaned Adjei to Arminia Bielefield after he failed to make the first team for the Russian club and that arrangement had nothing to do with Kotoko. He described Adjei's predicament as unfortunate but wondered why he had not bothered to speak to Kotoko about his problems.

The Kotoko CEO has meanwhile forwarded Adjei's demands to his lawyers for their advice.