The Interim Management Committee (IMC) of Kotoko Sporting Club have confirmed reports that two Sudanese players from the Club, Abdoel Karem Yagoub and Esmat Al Hasan, have fled from the team’s hotel in the US.
The runaway players were a part of the team flown to the United States to take part in the ceremonial game against DC United as part of activities to mark the Ghana Week in DC festivities.
The official statement from the IMC for Kotoko SC reads in full:
“Asante Kotoko SC regrets to inform our supporters and the public that two players, Esmat AbdalHamid Mohamed and Obdoelkarem Yoouef Yagoub, both Sudanese nationals, are currently missing from the camp
“The players left the team’s hotel without permission on Friday, 11th October 2024, and all efforts to contact or locate them have been unsuccessful. The club has officially notified law enforcement authorities in the United States and is cooperating fully to ensure their safe return.
“We urge our supporters to remain calm as we work with the relevant authorities. Signed, IMC”
Prior to the runaway incident, Kotoko Sporting Club, had served notice it would no longer represent Ghana at this year’s Capital City Africa Cup in scheduled for Saturday October 2 in Washington DC, United States.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) had given approval for Kotoko to participate in a high-profile international friendly against Major League Soccer (MLS) side DC United, in the ceremonial match, being put together by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) as part of activities to mark the 2024 edition of the annual Ghana Week DC.
Barely 48 hours to the match, Kotoko SC announced the team’s withdrawal from the ceremonial match ostensibly because of visa acquisition challenges faced by a good number of its players and team officials.
Below is the full statement from Kotoko SC:
It is with deep regret that we announce our decision to withdraw from the Capital City Africa Cup, scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C on Saturday, 12th October, 2024.
Despite ongoing discussions with the event organizers and the expectation that the visa challenges faced by our contingent would be resolved by Thursday evening, 10th October 2024, the necessary visas for our full squad and technical team have unfortunately not been secured in time. Given these hurdles, the club has determined that we are unable to proceed with participation in this year’s game.
Throughout this process, we have maintained our professionalism and patience, working diligently with all involved parties to explore every possible avenue for a smooth participation. However, due to circumstances beyond the club’s control, it is now in the best interest of the club to focus on our immediate priorities.
We understand that our decision may disappoint our supporters, who were eager to see Asante Kotoko SC compete on an international stage. However, this course of action reflects our commitment to ensuring the club operates under conditions that uphold our standards and values. As a result, we wish to make it clear that the brand Asante Kotoko SC is not associated with the game or any activities related to the Capital City Africa Cup.
We would also like to inform our supporters that the first contingent, including seven players and technical staff currently in the United States of America, will return to Ghana on Sunday, 13th October 2024. Upon their return, the team will immediately shift its focus to solidifying and building on our strong start to the Ghana Premier League season, ensuring continued success in the domestic campaign.
Asante Kotoko SC remains fully committed to upholding the reputation, dignity, and values of the club. We are grateful to our fans for their understanding and continued support during this period.
Signed, IMC
