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12.04.2005 Football News

Kotoko to part company with nine players

12.04.2005 LISTEN
By GNA

Accra, April 12, GNA- Kumasi Asante Kotoko plans to keep faith with 30 members of the playing body as the 2005 Ghana Telecom Premiership commences on Sunday, April 17.

The 30 players to include both old and newly recruited players according to information gathered by the GNA Sports would be announced before the team trek for their first match as guest of Berekum Arsenals on Sunday.

The Club is also expected to announce the names of nine players they intend to put on transfer in its bid to prune down the current list of 39 players to 30 players.

Coach Malik Jabir is said to have made the recommendation and that has influenced the management of the Gala Lords to renegotiate with players whose contract expires in June.

The coach told the GNA Sports that his decision was to afford him the opportunity to have enough inter-personal relationship with the players in his quest to build a formidable squad capable of holding high the name and pride of the Club.

He refuted media reports that cited such seasoned players as Michael Osei, Godfred Yeboah, Michael Asante, Michael Ofosu-Appiah, Nana Arhin Duah, Edmund Owusu Ansah, Joe Hendricks and goalkeeper George Owu were for transfer.

The coach explained that, "for sure, some players would be disposed of in the next few days but the names making the rounds are simply false".

Though he reckoned some of the above mentioned players could be affected by the exercise, coach Jabir said that " management is yet to decide on the fate of all the names I have submitted and whatever you hear out there cannot be said to be official".

Some of the players whose contract expires in two months have made the news for the wrong reason in recent times for what is seen as their supposed apathy towards training, lack of commitment, discipline and dedication to the "Porcupine Warriors".

The former national star said the issue of discipline, commitment and dedication would influence management's conclusion, which, according to the information gathered would affect most of the players who saw less action in the past seasons.

The management was said to have finalised an unknown contractual agreement with Owusu Ansah at the time of filing this report.

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