Ghana Premier League giants Kumasi Asante Kotoko commemorated its eighty-seventh milestone on August 31, 2022.
The club birthed on August 31, 1935 by Opanyin Kwasi Kuma is fittingly nicknamed Porcupine Warriors and boasts of numerous illustrious accomplishments.
It has annexed twenty-four league titles and ten FA Cups. The club whose symbol is the Porcupine also has "Wo Kum Apem A Apem Beba" as its endearing slogan.
On January 24, 1970, Kotoko conquered Africa for the first time after they defeated Congolese side Tout Puissant Mazembe in the then CAF Clubs Championship Final. Robert Mensah, Clifford Odame,Oliver Acquah, Henry Ohene Brenya, Bernard Kusi, Sulley Musah, Yaw Sam, Osumanu Orlando, Abukari Gariba, Abdul Malik Jabir and skipper Ibrahim Sunday featured in the historic and giant-killing feat.
Coaches Edward Jonah Aggrey-Fynn and Benjamin Koufie orchestrated the unlikely triumph with tremendous support from club Chairman J.E Acheampong and Benjamin Kyem Edusei. The Kumasi-based team stunned Egyptian giants Nadi Al-Ahly to clinch her second title on December 11, 1983 with the likes of Joseph Carr, James Kwasi Appiah, Ernest Appau, Seth Ampadu, Ahmed Rockson, Charles Kwame Sampson, Abdul Karim Zito Kabutey, Kwadwo Addae Kyenkyenhene, Yahya Kassum, Arkye Erzuah, Emmanuel Akwetey Quaye(Joetex), John Smith Bannerman, Samuel Opoku Nti, Isaac Afranie, Francis Agyemang, Isaac Ebo Mends and captain Ernest Papa Arko.
Coaches Ibrahim Sunday and Abdul Malik Jabir masterminded the conquest with support from indefatigable club Chairman Ernest Yaw Ofori Bawuah. Ibrahim Sunday and Abdul Karim Razak alias Golden Boy were adjudged the continent's finest Footballers in 1971 and 1978.
Jacob Dickson Amoah, J.K Darkwah, William Donkor, Osei Bobie, Charles de Graft Dickson, Nana Kwaku Mensah, Nana Darko Tuffuor, J.E Acheampong, John Samuel Kwame Frimpong, Lawrence Yaw Asamoah, Kwasi Prempeh, M.K Kyekyere,
Nana Osei Yaw, Yaw Frimpong, Simms Kofi Mensah, Issam John Moukarzel, Dr.John Kojo Dzane Selby, Francis Dominic Nsiah, Fred Brobbey Kyei, Ernest Yaw Ofori Bawuah, Daniel Kwesi Amanfo Ofori Nuako, Herbert Kwadwo Adusei Amponsah, Major Lawrence Yaw Ampene Larsen retired, Sylvester Asare Owusu, Edward Jarvis Kofi Amoako Peprah, Dr. Desmond Kofi Kodua Sarpong, Samuel Opoku Nti, Dr. Kwame Kyei and George Ernest Amoako once served as Chief Executive Officers of the club.
The youthful, action-driven and result oriented bespectacled Nana Yaw Amponsah is its current Chief Executive Officer. Former President John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor, Dr. Joseph Kwaku Kankam, Emmanuel Kwadwo Adu, George Aduse Poku alias Georgido, Peter Kwaku Aboagye Agyei (Maxbillion), Paul Victor Obeng and Paul Adu Gyamfi once chaired the team's Board of Directors.
The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu Ababio 11 is the club's Life Patron. Since his enstoolment on April 26, 1999, the King's excellent supervision has propelled Kotoko to seven league triumphs in 2003, 2005, 2008, 2012,2013, 2014 and 2022, three FA Cups (2001, 2014 and 2017) and runners-up twice in Africa 2002 and 2004. He was preceded by Otumfuo Opoku Ware 11 known in private life as Matthew Jacob Kwaku Adusei Poku who reigned from July 25, 1970 to February 25, 1999.
