Management of Asante Kotoko SC have announced a decision to indefinitely suspend all activities related to football “until further notice”.
According to the club, the decision will only be reversed only after further investigations are conducted into the tragic incident at Nsoatreman FC that led to the death of staunch supporter Francis Yaw Frimpong, popularly known as Nana Pooley.
The club, however, expressed profound appreciation to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Bono Regional Police Commander and the Chair of the Security Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for “their swift and decisive action in handling this matter”.
This comes a couple of days after Nana Pooley was stabbed to death just on the heels of Nsoatreman FC’s 1-0 win over Asante Kotoko.
On Monday, three persons including the owner of Nsoatreman FC, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, who is also the former Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, were arrested as part of investigations.
In their statement, Kotoko described the arrested as “three of the many masterminds behind this dastardly and heinous act”.
They further reposed confidence in the police “to pursue and bring every last perpetrator to justice”.
The club assured the family of their full support in these trying times, hinting at helping organize a befitting funeral for him.
Kotoko also pledged to cooperate with the GFA regarding the issues, assuring to help in ensuring that this issues serves as a turning point for Ghana football.
They asked all clubs, particularly archrivals Hearts of Oak, to join the cause of stamping out “the cycle of violence, hooliganism and lawlessness that threatens the integrity of our game”.
The club also gave full assurance to supporters that they will ensure that any move goes a long way to honour the memory of the late Nana Pooley.
“We will not be swayed, and we will not rest until true justice and lasting reforms are achieved.”
