'Herbert Mensah, Greatest Kotoko CEO'

Herbert Mensah

Renowned sports journalist and analyst Kwabena yeboah has described a former Board chairman of Asante Kotoko, Herbert Mensah, as the greatest leader he has ever seen at the porcupine warriors.

After his appointment as Board Chairman of Kotoko by the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II in 1999, Herbert Mensah devised a 5-year strategic plan that was aimed at rebuilding the club to ensure excellence both on and off the pitch.

He said during Mr. Mensah's tenure, Kotoko was able to generate a 234 million old cedi Mobitel Ghana sponsorship deal to settle unpaid player salaries and hand each of the 18 players a Star Call cellular phone and starter pack before introducing Kotoko Express, the club's official mouth-piece, onto the news-stands.

Speaking to an Accra based radio station, Mr Yeboah said the era of Mr Mensah also saw Asante Kotoko being handled by top coaches like Ernest Middendorp, who contributed to the club's rise to become the second best team on the African continent behind Al Ahly of Egypt.

'There have been several great leaders of Asante Kotoko, the likes of Ernest Yaw Ofori Barwuah, Paa Nuako but Herbert Mensah is the greatest I have met in Asante Kotoko,' Mr. Yeboah said.

According to Mr. Yeboah, aside Mr Mensah's plans to commercialize Kotoko's games, training sessions and programs through radio and television stations, Herbert Mensah was ready to oversee the construction of a 75,000 seater sports complex for the club on a 50-acre land given out by the team's life patron, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

However, the plans of the economist at the latter stages of his era could not materialize after his tenure came to an end in 2003.

Mr Kwabena Yeboah said he was disappointed that Herbert Mensah was never given another opportunity to run and improve the club.

'My biggest regret is that he was not allowed to actualize his vision for Asante Kotoko,' Mr. Yeboah added.