Kotoko board hands Opoku Nti 3-month extended mandate

The new Asante Kotoko board led by Lawyer Paul Adu-Gyamfi has given the club’s stop-gap Chief Executive Officer Samuel Opoku Nti an extra 3 months to continue running the day-to-day affairs of the league champions as the directors weigh on appointing a substantive ‘General Manager’ by January 2014, footy-ghana.com can exclusively reveal.

At the inauguration of the new Asante Kotoko board last month, the club’s owner and Life patron, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was full of praise for Opoku Nti for ‘stabilizing’ the club during the period of Dr. Sarpong’s resignation but refused to impose him on the new board saying he doesn’t want to meddle in the day-to-day affairs of the club by leaving the decision at the hands of the board to appoint a competent substantive Chief Executive who will be under remuneration.

Footy-Ghana.com understands the board in guarding against shifting focus from another successful title defense as the 2013/14 Premier League starts this weekend, has resolved to advertise the position of a Chief Executive while allowing the ex-footballer to continue his role till an appointment is made after the next three months.

Opoku Nti himself has openly declared his willingness to work as Asante Kotoko’s substantive General Manager and is ready to apply for the job when the opportunity arises.

In confirming the latest development to footy-ghana.com, interim manager Opoku Nti has immediately requested for the clearance to make certain key appointments to aid in his work.

“It is true the board has given me a mandate to further run affairs till after the next three months. It is refreshing to be given another chance to continue serving our great club. We have a big task ahead as the Premier League season starts this weekend so I encourage all to support our new cause of another title defence,” Opoku Nti told footy-ghana.com in an exclusive chat.

On the club’s lack of a Public Relations Officer and Operations Manager, Opoku Nti tells footy-ghana.com: “I have officially requested from the board to be given clearance to make appointments in that regard as the new season begins.”

Asante Kotoko has been without an official spokesperson and Operations Manager since the departure of the KK Sarpong-led board and management a few months ago.

In other news, the club’s board expects to sign a contract extension with title sponsors MTN when they meet on Wednesday.