Reflective yet undaunted...

The past week has been a difficult period. It has seen my write-ups and even my personality come under verbal attacks and critical scrutiny on FM stations especially in Kumasi. It’s just natural to hear the vibrant Kumasi FM stations paying such attention to what I write on Kotoko because Kumasi is Kotoko’s home.  

This period has been difficult not only for me but also for Kotoko Express and the entire editorial team. A highlight has been thrown on us and we risk being blinded if care isn’t taken. God lives! It’s all good. We won’t lose focus though I will be a little more careful with what I write, the criticism – some very fair and others misplaced – won’t however derail my focus.

The criticism will neither discourage nor dampen my spirit. Criticisms, when they are constructive, ought to be appreciated but those borne out of ignorance and malice should be ignored. Some of the criticisms that have come, I must admit, are legitimate. For example, it doesn’t sound logical as to why a newspaper set up by Kotoko will lambast Kotoko.

The logic in that criticism that is if we are to accept is weak, is almost akin to the logic behind the purported ban of Kotoko Express from covering Kotoko programmes. I will ignore the ban issue since it’s irrelevant to my objective today. Let it be noted that, Kotoko Express has not and I don’t think it will ever be the aim of Kotoko Express to run down the very establishment that set it up.

Throughout the 13 years of Kotoko Express’ existence, it has taken the selfless service and professionalism of individuals to get the newspaper running. Given the amount of resources that go into a single publication for instance, it will just be unwise for the people on the paper to embark on a campaign to oust a Kotoko administration. We can’t and won’t do that.

Kotoko Express is so decent to be reduced to a vile and vindictive newspaper. Throughout the period I have been around, nobody has thought of such things because true professionals administer the newspaper. These professionals will not allow petty, sentimental reasoning to dictate the pace. 

Kotoko Express will not stoop low to maliciously take on managers, coaches, players and supporters of Kotoko. Of what good lies in the running down of other human beings and institutions?

It’s unfortunate that, the genuine intentions of some of us about shining the light on issues bedeviling the club created the wrong impression or has been fatally misunderstood. 

It’s said that, “Apology if rendered in the most sincere manner has the power to melt the hardest of heart particularly when those to whom it’s being rendered also make room for it”. That’s why I offer an unqualified apology to anybody I might have offended in any way with my write-ups or thoughts on Kotoko. My heart is too precious to me to allow negative emotion to have a place in there. Therefore, I’m profusely sorry for any wrongdoing.  

The New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s Presidential candidate, Nana Akufo Addo in a recent radio interview alluded to something I liked so much. He said: “Bitterness is a negative emotion” and it has the capacity to derail one’s focus. I’m not bitter as a result. It’s on this note that, I urge all who are or were hurt by my write-ups to let go any bitter feeling and look ahead with hope and the conviction that, when the right things are done, Kotoko will achieve the best.  

Kotoko may not be in best of shape at the moment but nothing is lost. It’s not too late for the team to bounce back. I close this article with an advice. Journalists at Kotoko Express have an extremely delicate task. This is the task of promoting the interest of the club at all times while simultaneously ensuring that, the hands in which Kotoko have been entrusted work well.

Thus ours isn’t a simple task. If we get things wrong as a people, it can only be a natural consequence and not something deliberate particularly when we are so careful not to even hurt a fly. Let’s eschew needless suspicion, mistrust; be patient and open-minded and carry out our mandate to make fabulous Kumasi Asante Kotoko one of the greatest football clubs in the world.