Kumasi Asante Kotoko have a announced a partnership deal with Southampton Football Club. The deal is part of Nana Yaw Amponsah’s restructuring and development of the club into a viable model.
Asante Kotoko SC becomes Southampton’s first professional club partnership in Africa adding to a range of partners across North America, the Middle East, Australia and Japan. The Premier League side will aid Kotoko both on and off the pitch.
In a statement released by the saints, they look forward to sharing industry-leading coaching expertise to help Asante Kotoko realise their ambition of building a sustainable Academy. Exchange visits between the UK and Ghana for academy staff, as well as opportunities for Asante Kotoko’s young players to attend annual UK Player Development camps and experience the Southampton Academy methodology first-hand, when travel corridors open up and it is safe to travel.
Asante Kotoko’s CEO, Nana Yaw Amponsah commented: “This partnership enables us to plug Asante Kotoko into Southampton in such a way that Kotoko functions like Southampton. Kotoko would have everything Southampton has but to a level that reflects our different budgets. I believe that with the expertise and resources available at Southampton, we can tap into this and develop our setup to look and feel professional like Saints.”
Mark Abrahams, Director of Business and Community Development commented:
“During these challenging times we’re delighted to have agreed a long-term partnership to work with Asante Kotoko. Nana Yaw has a clear vision for Asante Kotoko to be a self-sustainable football club both on and off the pitch. We look forward to working with him and his team to support their development.”
