Akwaaba, Kessben FC

RECENT events in Ghana football have greatly rubbed me the wrong way. The ridiculous score lines registered on the last day of the middle league and the international exposure it received saddened me. It was gut wrenching to watch the guys on Supersports Soccer Africa programme take jibes at Ghana soccer. To cap it, there was this ignorant chap who was supposed to be Ghanaian displaying total lack of appreciation of our game. He had the nerve to suggest that Ghanaian teams capitulate easily citing our 6-1 loss to Germany and our supposedly 2-8 loss to Brazil. For the records, that game in question wasn't a full international, it was played with the Olympics teams of both nations. The only senior player on our side was Tony Yeboah.

My disappointment with those shameful score lines was the link to our living legend Abedi Pele. The fact that his team Nania FC (built through years of hard work and immense resources) was involved made it even more disconcerting. Whatever action taken by the FA would not assuage the nation and the international disrepute it has plunged our game. My only hope is the cool heads prevail and we don't end up destroying some of the teams involved. These events took the shine off the achievements of Wa All Stars and Kessben F.C especially. It is with pride and joy that I welcome the newest addition to the Premier League from this part of the country. Historically, we have produced more than our fair share of talented players and tams. Obviously the most successful team in terms of achievements has been Kumasi Asante Kotoko. So many clubs have emerged from this region and a lot of them have disappeared sadly. Ashgold have this solid financial backbone and administrative structures that have ensured their continued stay at the very top of Ghana football (they almost lost this a few years ago).

A man I respect so much, Alhaji Grunsah has almost single handedly ensured that King Faisal maintain their Premiership status and along the way make their mark on the continent. But for the injustice meted out to them this season, they should have been lying mid table. The day Cornerstone FC were relegated, continues to this day, to be one of my lowest points in football. We fondly remember Hearts-Kotoko matches, but the greatest in terms of passion and intrigue, was the local derbies between Kotoko and Cornerstone. In the 70s, once the league fixtures were released, soccer fans penciled the derby match as the must watch. Most soccer fans were left with enduring memories of the black and white stripes and black shorts of Cornerstones and the all red of Kotoko.

What made these games intriguing was that no matter the form of Kotoko, Corners always gave them a hard game with crunching tackles and dogged determination. Kotoko mostly ended up on the losing side. Aside of this, Corners provided Kotoko with a regular stream of quality players from Ben Acheampong through to Abdul Razak and to the era of the Ampeahs and Frimpong Manso incidentally the brain behind Kessben F.C. Along the way there was Mr. Pobee's Neoplan Stars and Allen Gyimah's Kumapim Stars (an exciting team that sadly disappeared too early). Kumapim stars gave us Opoku Agyeman (Aduro) whose promising career was ravaged by injuries. Adansiman can barely survive a season in the upper tier.

It is against this backdrop that I warmly welcome Kessben F.C to the Premiership. Instinctively I feel Kessben will do well. They have a very short history, but on closer inspection, one finds it replete with moderate achievements. Since they qualified for the Premiership, the debate has been the posture they should adopt in relation to “big brother” Asante Kotoko. The debate has ranged from being a Corners ie. provide Kumasi with great derby games, more or less give Kotoko “hell”. This incidentally has been the posture of Ashgold. The other end of the spectrum is to adopt the posture King Faisal has lately, virtually losing games against Kotoko. In my opinion, Kessben F.C owes Kotoko nothing and should just play them the way they would approach any important game. There is no truth in the assertion that the teams that “challenge” Kotoko end up getting relegated.

The model I hope they adopt would be that of Liberty Professionals. They have shown clearly in recent years how to be successful as a “small club”. This means clear management structures. In the vein, I'm glad they have gone in for the energetic Randy Abbey as the Executive Chairman. Randy is visionary enough to see this club through. The “owner” of the club, Mr. Kwabena Kesse, is their trump card. He has demonstrated business acumen unparalleled in the country in recent times. I know people would point to his term at Kotoko and say wasn't successful, but Kotoko is a different ball game. I firmly believe that he will succeed with Kessben F.C. My humble advice to him (with his Kotoko experience) is to eliminate all power blocks and have a sustainable management structure and proper organizational structure, something I have advocated for Kotoko and Hearts all these years without success. There should be departments such as legal, medical, technical, youth and scouting with well qualified individuals to man these departments. Aggressive marketing and sponsorship drive should be the hallmark. Support base for the team would come naturally.

Listening to Randy Abbey gave me hope and knowing him I'm sure he would work hard to achieve the dream. My hope for Kessben FC is that ten years from now we would see a truly professional club, with fully functioning secretariat, a clubhouse with a gym and swimming facilities, a moderate training and playing pitches and eventually produce great players for the country. My advice to the technical team is that they should at all cost strengthen the team in the key areas like goalkeeping, central defence, holding midfielder and a striker. In all this, they should look for experienced players (see what Joe Ansah and James Nanor are doing).

I wish all those involved with Kessben F.C the best and I'm sure they will succeed, Insha Allah (actually Inch Allah) to quote Alhaji Grunsah.

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