Supporter criticizes AngloGold Ashanti for not supporting Club
A keen supporter of AshantiGold Sporting Club (Ashgold) has called on the management of AngloGold Ashanti to brief and show their commitment to the running of the Club to the supporters.
Mr James Elvis Oduro, former Vice-Chairman of the Supporters Union (Shaft) of the Club told GNA Sports at Obuasi that ever since the merger between Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC) and AngloGold, AngloGold Ashanti's commitment to the progress of Club has not been encouraging.
He said the fortunes of Ashgold is the main rallying point of the residents the Obuasi community as well the workers of Anglogold Ashanti since their performance creates the needed entertainment and that it was time the management of the company came out to let supporters and the entire Obuasi community know their commitment towards the development of the Club.
“If they are not interested in the Club, they should let us know so that either the Club is sold out or privatized to promote serious and effective management of the Club”, he said.
Mr Oduro regretted that last year when the Club participated in the CAF's Champions League, it had to go borrowing before players and officials could emplane to Algeria for one of their matches.
The former Vice-Chairman alleged that this year Ashgold was virtually denied financial assistance to enable management to recruit quality players to beef up the team for the Premier league soccer season.
“These lukewarm attitudes are not healthy development for a great Club like Ashgold”.
Mr Oduro however said that if AngloGold Ashanti were only interested in mining gold, then they should withdraw the name associated with the Club.
He said “supporters are very wild” on the issue and that the earlier the management of the company declared their interest and intention about the Club the better it would be for the future of Ashgold.
The Vice-Chairman insisted that Obuasi and its environs should benefit from the company and that they should as a matter of urgency change their stance and continue to give the Club its due to help improve the current situation.
On the contributions of the Board of Directors of the Club, Mr Oduro said “Ashgold now needs an energetic management body to run the Club and not a Board”.
Meanwhile efforts by the GNA Sports to get the version of the company's management about its commitment to Ashgold failed since Mr John Owusu, a top management staff and the current Board Chairman of the Club was not available for his comments.