Some of the current Kotoko players wouldn’t have made it to Kotoko’s reserve side in the 80s – Osei Kyei Mensah

The Member of Parliament for Suame Constituency and the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah has shared his view on Kotoko’s failure to make it to the quarter-final stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Speaking on Kessben FM, Osei Kyei Mensah said looking at the current Kotoko players, “some of them would not have made it to the reserve team of Kotoko during the time of Kwasi Appiah, [Ernest] Apau and Francis Kumi” who all played for the club in the 80s.

The MP also attributed the recent bad performance to the neglect of “colts” football in the country.

“We should revive the Colts system,” he said.

He explained that all the players have the technical ability and the coach is supposed to introduce the tactics, however, if the players are unable to develop their skill at an early age [thus through the Colts system] they will not develop well.

Kotoko last won a continental trophy in 1983 after defeating Egyptian giants Al Ahly in Kumasi whom they had lost the trophy to in 1982.

Though the 1982 squad could not win the trophy, some football pundits believe the 82 were better than the 83 team that won the trophy.

Kotoko’s players in the 80s were among the best players on the continent at that time and they include Joe Carr who was a goalkeeper, Ernest Apau, Kwasi Appiah, Seth Ampadu, Addai Kyenkyenhene, Yahya Kasimu, John Bannerman, Papa Arko(Cap), Ebo Mends, Opoku Nti, Isaac Afranie,Albert Asaase, Francis Agyemang, Akye Erzuah, Ahmed Rockson, Karim Abdul Zito and Akwetey Quaye (JoeTex).

by: Nana Asabere