The families of the former chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko late B.K. Edusei, have launched the B.K. Edusei Foundation to support some former players of the club.
The foundation, is targeted at the living players of the Kumasi based club that aided the team towards their Africa glories in 1971 and 1983 before expanding its tentacles to other generations.
Chief Executive officer of the Foundation, Maame Yaa Edusei, who is the daughter of the late B.K. Edusei said the foundation will ensure those who played for the club at the time will receive the funds from the foundation following recommendations by Board of Trustees.
‘Most former players are living in a very difficult situation after sacrificing their life and talent for this dear club. Its very unbearable to see perhaps national stars in that unpleasant condition. We therefore set this Foundation to raise funds to set them up. The benefit is going to be on pilot basis with the immediate target being the winners of the 1979 Africa Cup’. Chief Executive Officer of B.K Edusei Foundation, Maame Yaa Edusei.
Among dignitaries who dignified the launch were the Chairman of the NPP, Freddy Blay, Former National Media Commission chairman, Kabral Amihere, and a host of former Asante Kotoko players including Osei Kofi, Kofi Pare, Malik Jabir, etc.
Benjamin Kyem Edusei, affectionately called ‘B.K’ by the football fraternity died on July 1978 and was one of the strongest pillars in the history and also masterminded Africa club champions successes for the Porcupine Warriors.
He loved football and footballers. He was a philanthropist extraordinary and long serving patron of Asante Kotoko.
He was made the first Accra representative of Asante Kotoko and was believed to be the instigator of the poaching players at the end of every football season as he facilitated the recruitment of high profile players for Asante Kotoko with attractive monetary incentives.
Kotoko thus became a strong force both at home and abroad and before long the Porcupine Warriors had become champion club of Africa in 1970.
BK always insisted on getting the best for Asante Kotoko. He was the first to employ foreign coaches for Asante Kotoko, namely Josef Ember and Kertez. He did that with strong support from Messrs S.K. Mainoo, E.K. Osei and Nana Kufuor the late Nkawiehene.
B.K. Edusei paid two years emoluments of the two foreign coaches.
He gave two of his houses in Tesano as camping places for the team each time they were in Accra.
He was the 1st Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asante Kotoko and remained so for a very long time till the late Asantehene Otumfuo Opoku Ware II conferred on him the title of life patron.
He was the main inspirer and major financier whilst Otumfuo was the spiritual head. He was also the man who resolved conflicts between Kotoko and other clubs.
He was once the patron of Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) in recognition of his contribution to football development.
Story filed by Michael Okuley
Twitter: @MikeOkuley
