SOS boss shows the way forward

Accra, May 4, GNA - Mr Herbert Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Outsourcing Solution (SOS) Networx, a Sports Consultancy firm has said the only way forward for the two most glamorous clubs in the country, Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak is the introduction of massive capital investment.

He said that the fact that Hearts and Kotoko have become institutions is a reality, hence the need for their owners to run them as commercial entities in order to generate the needed results.

Speaking to the GNA Sports in an interview, the former Chief Executive of Kotoko underscored the need for a proper definition of the ownership of the two Clubs in order for them to attract the deserved investment capable of turning their fortunes around.

"Whilst the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu is known to be the owner of Kotoko with some complications, Hearts are still grappling with series of court cases over ownership and these are some of the things which must be structured for the two clubs to progress". Mr Mensah noted.

Mr Mensah who is widely credited for his taste for professionalism expressed the conviction about the essence of establishing the appropriate structures to enable the Clubs win both on and off the pitch.

He outlined such structures as adequate medical care for players, sound technical leadership and well-resourced marketing departments to attract the necessary investments from the corporate world among others. Also well remembered for the introduction of sound professional practices during his days in Kotoko, Mr Mensah described the current state of the country's football as sad, whilst describing Hearts success in the last Confederation Cup as a testimony of taking the right decisions.

SOS is partly credited for the success of Hearts in that competition following their association that saw them employing the services of the German coach, Ernst Middendorp who within a short time transformed the otherwise hopeless team to a winsome side.

Mr Mensah clamoured for a drastic revival of the required structures which he believed could have seen Kotoko's sponsorship soar at least 10 billion cedis annually but for the collapse of those structured he outlined.

He also traced Kotoko's current problems to the vilification of past chairmen, saying that for instance, "In Hearts, whether you were a good chairman or not, you are still considered as part of the family, but that is not the case with Kotoko, they are often accused of stealing and other negative things about the officers even after leaving office".

Mr Mensah said he currently prefers to concentrate on his business with Cellular Phone giants, Nokia, when he was quizzed about whether he intends making a u-turn into the front line of the passion of the nation.