By Ameenu Shardow
Asante Kotoko will go ahead to pursue raising additional funds in Sunday’s game against Hearts of Oak despite the Ghana FA’s decision to kick against it.
The Premier League leaders were looking to cash-in on the expected huge turnout for the game at the Baba Yara Stadium by increasing ticket prices to help defray recently incurred debts.
The Kumasi-based club is to pay about 135, 000 Euros in consolidated fines for the wrongful sacking of a coach (Hans Dieter Schmidt) and failure to honor transfer commitments to clubs after player sales.
Kotoko thus wrote to the GFA seeking permission to undertake the increment as part of its massive fundraising project but their plea was turned down by the association.
The club that feels hard-done by the decision has however resolved to print separate tickets to be sold at the gates with to aid the funds mobilisation process.
Proceeds of this fundraising mechanism at the gates on Sunday according to the club’s Public and Supporter Relations Manager Listowell Bukarson will be devoid of any tax or administrative deductions.
“Following the Ghana FA’s decision not to grant us permission to make changes to ticket prices linked with helping us pay the Fifa judgement debts, the club has decided to find other innovative means to raise the money from Sunday’s game,†he told GHANAsoccernet.com.
“Special tickets will be sold seperate from the match tickets itself at the gates to help raise the funds.
“We pay a staggering 49% of total earnings from home games and therefore the need to bring this innovation which does not attract tax.
“The Premier League game rates will be maintained while we try to raise our own funds through the sale of these tickets at the stadium.â€
The new arrangement will see all seasonal tickets and complimentary card holders pay an amount of 10 Ghana cedis the popular stands, center line and the north and south wings attract 1, 2 and 8 Ghana cedis respectively.