On this day 25 April 1963 (Exactly 60 years ago today) John Samuel Kwame Frimpong “Teacher Frimpong “, the man who gave the name Asante Kotoko to the Club some 86 years ago died prematurely to the deepest regret of all members of Asante Kotoko Sporting Club.
All other football fans all over the country were shocked at his sudden death, and paid him fitting tributes regarding his contributions to Asante Kotoko in particular and to football in the country as a whole.
Frimpong was a very resolute person, who once he had made up his mind, stood firmly by his decisions. He had a dynamic personality and also tremendous belief in himself and in whatever he did. Nicknamed “Neoplan of Soccer” by the Kotoko players, Frimpong was a brave man.
He was never afraid to make a decision even if it was unpopular. He would not side with the crowd so as to achieve cheap popularity. He always had the courage of his convictions. He was a man of determined, rigid principles who believed in discipline and had little patience with anyone who did not share that belief.
This explains why he became unpopular with the players at the end of his tenure of office as Chairman.
On themselves at the expense of the great Club and the Ashanti nation but the Club marches on.
These mischievous acts start at the beginning of every football season and, like great France until General Charles De Gaulle came, this great Club of Ashanti, since 1958, had removed from office no less than three chairmen and all their executives end bloc on flimsy charges that had never been substantiated.
“Jacob Dickson Amuah relieved Mr William Donkor soon after the 1957 elections and, before he and his executives were a year old, the cancer had started to eat deep into them.
This first attempt was abortive. But when in 1959, a disciplinary action was taken against certain players, the matter had soccer -politics savour. The Regional Commissioner of Ashanti had to step in: the accounts books of Kotoko were seized.
“A Committee was appointed to go into the finances of the Club; for it had been alleged that Amuah and his lieutenant had misappropriated no less than three thousand pounds of the Club’s money for an alleged securing of “Black juju” to keep the Club on its feet.
It was after Amuah and his band had put Kotoko on the soccer map, winning the Aspro and the League Cups which made them ‘Champion of Champions ‘. Amuah and his band made their exits in March 1959.
“In stepped John Samuel Kwame Frimpong –call him ‘Teacher Frimpong’ –the man who gave the name Asante Kotoko to the Club some 26 years ago.
“But when he disciplined two players the trouble started. It was during the latter stages of the 1961/62 season. The fire spread wide when a star player was suspended; Frimpong and his executives resigned end bloc….
BY: GEORGE ‘Alan Green’ MAHAMAH
