Kotoko, Hearts In Tug Of War

Kumasi Asante Kotoko have effectively stopped and blocked the move of Accra Hearts of Oak from signing on Nana Kofi Frimpong formerly of King Faisal. Last Thursday both Kotoko and King Faisal officials were locked in a meeting behind closed doors in Accra.

Alhaji Abdul Karim Gurza, King Faisal boss, lawyer Yaw Boafo of Gye Nyame Chambers in Kumasi, lawyer Owusu Ansah, Ghalca Vice Chairman who doubles as the GFA Vice Chairman and Herbert Mensah were the dominant figures at the meeting.

Kotoko sources told Mailsports that Alhaji Gurza and his team put their cards face up accusing Kotoko of using Nana Frimpong without due authorisation. However, when the heat subsided, business went on with King Faisal demanding ?360 million. The argument was that if Kotoko's selling price of Prince Adu Poku is ?30 million for not even kicking a ball, then Nana Frimpong who has played 23 matches and scored over ten goals should attract a much higher fee.

However, at the time the two parties broke off the meeting to be continued later, there were signs of the King Faisal group beating down the selling price of the player with even softer terms of payment.

Alhaji Muhammed Muftau, a confidante of Herbert Mensah and a close friend of this writer initiated the move. It was Alhaji Muftau who contacted Alhaji Kamel, King Faisal's vice chairman to set the stage for negotiations which necessitated a letter written to Kotoko by King Faisal on January 22, last month.

Kotoko delayed only to be jolted from their slumber by the surreptitious moves by the Phobians to snatch the goal getter into their fold.