Exclusive: Kotoko in danger of losing MTN, RLG sponsorship deals

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MTN have been sponsoring Kotoko for the past three years

Asante Kotoko are in danger of losing lucrative sponsorship deals with MTN and RLG, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.

The two firms who are in the telecommunications business are unhappy with the mileage being received from the Ghanaian champions since the new board took over in August.

The Kumasi-based club only agreed to a renewal of the initial three-year deal with MTN in October.

But the club's failure to register most of their supporters on the several telephone packages of MTN including their Mobile Money service as one of the conditions for the renewal threatens to scupper the deal.

The champions have been funding player salaries mainly from their sponsorship deal with MTN.

This means, the club stands to lose massively if they are unable to salvage the collapsing relationship with the telecommunications giants.

Kotoko also have to deal with a similar problem with telecommunication gadget manufacturers RLG.

There was an agreement to have RLG produce Kotoko branded mobile phones as part of the terms for their sponsorship agreement.

But feasibility studies conducted by the Ghanaian-own firm shows the initiative is bound for failure despite the relative success of the team in the Ghana Premier League.

RLG feel the club's leadership is not doing enough to sensitize the supporters about these plans to ensure its success upon rolling out.

The club must now organize themselves to put out a solid defence to these two firms in order to retain the sponsorship packages.

Kotoko remains the most sponsored team in Ghana but their financial books are still in a critical state.

The club has had to rely in donations, grants and loans from wealthy supporters to run the club's operations in the Premier League.

The situation is even to get worse as the club prepared to open their campaign in the CAF Champions League.