Experienced football administrator Takyi Arhin has strongly criticized Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak for demanding automatic spots on the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
Arhin accused the two clubs of exploiting the tragic death of Kotoko fan Francis Yaw Frimpong (Pooley) to push for special treatment.
He argued that Kotoko and Hearts are no different from other clubs in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) and do not deserve privileged status.
“We are not justifying what happened in Nsoatre, we condemn it, and we mourn with the family,” Arhin stated. “But don’t use this tragedy to demand an Exco slot because you are the ‘most glamorous clubs’. That argument is neither here nor there. They are like any other club in the country,” he said in an audio aired on Pure FM.
He also took a swipe at both clubs, claiming they have lost their stature as football powerhouses.
“Today, if Kotoko are playing, you can count the fans in the stadium within three minutes. The same applies to Hearts of Oak. We used to use Kotoko and Hearts for budgeting, but that’s no longer the case.”
Arhin questioned the dominance of the two clubs over the past decade, implying that their influence has waned.
“How many times have Kotoko and Hearts won the league in the last 10 years?” he quizzed.
Following Pooley’s death, Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak have been vocal about the need for major reforms in Ghanaian football.
Kotoko has even suspended its participation in the league until their demands are met.
In a joint statement, both clubs outlined twelve key reforms they want the GFA to implement, including automatic representation on the Executive Council to have a direct say in decision-making.
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