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| Osei Kuffour Is Kotoko-Bound |
1/13/2007 |
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Kumasi Asante Kotoko are bracing up to beat their rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak, to the services of veteran Ashgold midfielder, Emmanuel Osei Kuffuor.
Kuffour, easily the longest serving professional on the Ghanaian soccer terrain, has been at the centre of transfer specultions since he left his Obuasi base unceremoniously after a crunch Onetouch premiership game against Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Cape Coast Robert Mensah Stadium last year to Accra, fuelling speculations that he might quit the Obuasi club.
Three clubs- Asante Kotoko, Tema Youth and his former club, Hearts of Oak- have been caught in a web of struggle in search of his services.
Graphic Sports has learnt that both Hearts and Youth have made a ¢100million offer to Ashgold for the release of the player, and it appears Kumasi Kotoko will leave the two in their trail as they have already established their financial clout to secure the services of the former international.
Ashgold sources hinted that the player would be released to the Porcupine Warriors who have almost concluded discussions with the miners and could in the coming days add the player to their January signings.
According to Graphic Sports sources, Hearts were the first to write formally to Ashgold late last year seeking the release of the player after Kuffuor himself was said to have had informal discussions with the management of Hearts.
Ashgold responded immediately to the request with a demand for ¢150million for an outright release, but according to a Hearts management source management moves for the player were stalled following a caveat from the Board of the club which wanted it to reconcile debts incurred over its pre-season recuitment.
Since then the player has returned to Obuasi and, as revealed yesterday by Ashgold’s CEO, Mr Kudjoe Fianoo, he has since been training with the club, adding that his oufit was ready to release him if the player desired so.
Kuffuor has been a villain since the Ashgold-Kotoko match for failing to bury a loose ball at close range which could have given the Obuasi-based side a deserved equaliser.
Story by Andy Quao
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