Kotoko settle on 30% pay cut for players – CEO

Asante Kotoko’s Chief Executive Officer George Amoako has revealed the financial strain Covid-19 has had on Ghanaian clubs, mainly on his club.

Football came to a halt in Ghana in mid-March in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak and clubs have had a hard time to manage affairs financially.

George Amoako told 3news.com categorically that the players of Kotoko had agreed a pay cut of 30 per cent – a sum that he says has been difficult to match.

Rumours were rife that the players of the Kumasi-based club were asked to receive a pay cut of 40 per cent but after various meetings and deliberations, they arrived at the suitable amount.

“Now that you cannot earn anything, it becomes very difficult to manage. We have had to negotiate with our players to agree to cut their salaries by 30%. Even that is not easy to meet. It affects sponsorship monies,” he said.

Amoako, who doubles as a member of the GFA’s Executive Council, further touched on the uncertainty surrounding when the league will return.

Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku has set June to brief clubs and football enthusiasts on the progress the Association has taken to get the game back.

George Amoako believes it will all take some time.

“In the light of what we are seeing in this Covid-19 period, I don’t see our way clear in starting football competitions in the next two months.”

The Kotoko CEO believes that processes to bring football back are complex but truncating it now would be a bit premature.

“Even if we are made to start tomorrow, we will have to train for a minimum of four weeks before you set your team together to be able to play competitive games and that will take you beyond July,” he observed.

“So for now, let us wait and see. Let’s wait and get the advice from the medical practitioners and the politicians and then we will be able to take a decision going forward.”