Supporters’ demonstration needless

Demonstration by the Kotoko Circles not necessary 

News of some disgruntled supporters planning to go demonstration first got me thinking. I wondered why anyone would want to demonstrate over developments in the club and my wonder wasn’t because I thought there weren’t issues that could send people on the street.

I was just fascinated by the fact that, some of us felt the best way to address issues in Kotoko is or was to seek police permit, wear red armbands and hit the streets with brass band music like we have seen people do lately against the government over perceived incompetence.

As someone with a libertarian inclination, I’m not against demonstrations. In fact, within our fairly liberal, democratic environment, everyone has the right to demonstrate especially when the correct processes are followed but then, I have often questioned the objective and in actual fact, the basis of some demonstrations of which the imminent our fans’ demonstration is one.

I seriously don’t see the basis for that demonstration. It’s true that, not everything is right with Kotoko. Only a week back, the club sunk deep into the relegation pit when it lost 1-0 to Aduana Stars on match day six of the 2015/16 Premier League. That loss wasn’t the least surprising to me for the simple reason that, Aduana Stars have been difficult beat in their hostile backyard.

Losing to Aduana Stars however capped moments of grief and the state of near-hopelessness that had engulfed the team. So management, hours after the Aduana Stars game, announced that, head coach David Duncan was to step aside in the next few matches as part of measures to halt the unimpressive Kotoko league run.

Coach Duncan essentially rejected that notice from management. His lawyer wrote to management, asking that his client is reinstated. Coach Duncan actually went to Adako Jachie on Tuesday to train with the players while the entire team was at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium working under the supervision of assistant coach, Michael Osei.

That act by Coach Duncan was embarrassing. The media picked it and made Kotoko look bad. All that happened on Tuesday and the surprise visit by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, later that day climaxed the dramatic developments of that fateful day. The Asantehene’s visit was important as he charged the team to win their matches while leaving issues relative to management to him.

The Asantehene also addressed the supporters at the training ground – sharing the same information he shared with the players. This long narrative is to establish one point, which is that, where the Asantehene had come in to demand nothing but a win in the team’s matches; and the leadership issues left to him, moves to exert pressure on the current administration without recourse to the Asantehene’s directive are or were needless to say the least.

Like I alluded to, I’m not sure the right to demonstrate can be curtailed anyhow but then as Kotoko supporters and people who truly love the club, we must respect the position of the Asantehene. A demonstration for the removal of any member of the current management or the Board of Directors isn’t the way out to Kotoko’s problem. The way out is to support the players while waiting patiently and trusting the Asantehene’s word.

It’s important we give due respect here. It wasn’t for nothing that the Great King moved straight to Adako Jachie to inspire the team and demand the best from them. We should do away with personal differences with members of the current leadership and seek the club’s interest. Therefore the best we can do with our energies as supporters is to throw our weight behind the team; not to demonstrate and make news headlines for nothing.

Let’s support the players and the technical team to give us desired result like they did last Sunday against Liberty Professionals. That result has changed the feeling in and around the club. Thus what the players need this time is encouragement while we leave the leadership issues to the powers that be! Let’s shelve our differences in opinion over Kotoko’s leadership issues and give the players and the technical team the needed support. We must believe that, all will be well with time.