Story by Nana Yaw Preko Bimpeh
To a greater degree, one could fall for the theory that opined Kotoko’s failure to win the league, was down to the sale of their lethal striker Kwame Poku. The smart as a whip striker was Asante Kotoko‘s marksman who was converting all the half chances and scored many important goals for the the team before his sudden move to Algerian side USM Algiers. That transfer move of the fearsome striker has come to be the anti-climax of their 24th league story that ended in awe.
Amply, without any equivocation one can profess that the porcupine substituted it’s defensive quills for financial benefits rendering it defenseless costing them what would have been their 24th league triumph story. As much Asante Kotoko benefitted immensely within their pockets, the antagonists smacked down the theory even more akin it to selling the hen that laid the golden eggs.
After the whining and brooding over the league loss to bitterest rivals Hearts, fast forward to today the fans can reflect to say delightfully management has done a good replacement and it is indeed paying off. It is only fair that the porcupine fans lauded management similarly as they maligned them for the exchange of Kwame Poku.
Prior to the exit of Poku, Asante Kotoko were at the top of the league log but surprisingly cascaded down. Interestingly though, today Kotoko similarly are rafting themselves at the top with high hopes of striking that elusive gold of last season.
This yet but an impending success story largely cannot be delinked from a man who has beautifully carved himself as the perfect fix for Kwame Poku so to speak and the fabulous problems. The lost golden hen has been found in Frank Mbella Etouga and as to how easily it was for those thunderball eyes to make him out, is a rather greater deal of joy for the euphoric fabulous fans enjoying the goodies.
Kotoko has had knotty antecedents relating to foreign players who only came to blow hot and cold when so much noise had been made about them. If there are any successful stories as regard the Ghanaian giants and foreign players who have graced the symbolic red shirt, this could be one of those that will be etched in the red, yellow, black, green and white kotoko colours.
I cannot be certain of the hopes and the expectations of those who worked out this deal for the current league leaders, however I can state with much emphasis that the dealers perhaps have been overwhelmed by the performances the Cameroonian import has dished out to this end.
This palpably indicates the significance of the work kotoko did during the transfer window. The brains behind this must be extremely proud especially that of Etouga.
Just like Kwame Poku whose name became a chorus and a household name, Frank Mbella Etouga’s name has by and by become a Shakespearean sonnet everyone is rhyming. With a buoyant kingly ride at the top Etouga has hit fourteen goals in the 2021-22 league season after match day twenty. Would it not strike you to know that the Cameroonian did not start season from the outset? He came when the league was five weeks old and as swift as light Mbella has surpassed those who even started when the bell was rung for the season to start.
There have been hints of clubs pursuing this new porcupine poster boy. Where fans have cautioned management to make him stay for some seasons but as to how that will put out, I suppose there is a huge learning curve to reflect on so not to put spokes in the wheel of the supporter’s joy.
Frank Mbella Etouga is in a touching distance of equalling and breaking some long records for club and the national league and i just hope the amazing thin chap’s reeling story don’t get abridged else it might defeat possibly the hypothesis of the project the two-time African champions have so longed to erect. Closely followed by Bright Adjei that sparkling chap from Dormaa, it will be intriguing to see how he is able to withstand that pressure. Mbella nonetheless, looks confident to finish with the golden boot. He can make you sing his name Frank Mbella Etouga.
Read moreon Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s