02/09/2026
ASANTE KOTOKO AT 91, By Ken Bediako
A belated happy birthday to Fabulous Kumasi Asante Kotoko, who celebrated their 91st anniversary last Monday, August 31.
There were no high-sounding activities to mark the occasion, for obvious reasons. In fact, many admirers of arguably the nation’s best-supported football club will tell you that Kotoko are fast losing that trademark magnetic attraction which filled stadiums to capacity in the “good old days”.
But hold it!
The die-hards believe there is still light at the end of the tunnel, and last Friday’s Democracy Cup victory over traditional rivals Accra Hearts of Oak should perhaps be taken as a signal that a bright star looms on the seemingly dark horizon.
As my humble contribution to the rather muted birthday celebration, let me trace the fascinating birth of this Fabulous club of Africa, drawing on the account of football historian Henry K. Akyeampong in his 1964 publication.
THE BIRTH OF THE FABULOUS CLUB
Here we go.
Asante Kotoko has woven around itself a reputation which earned the club that famous description: “Fabulous Asante Kotoko.”
Yet, back in 1935, little could the pioneers have imagined what their creation would become.
In the years that followed, Kotoko would establish a formidable list of achievements: national champions, pioneers in several aspects of Ghanaian football and, eventually, champions of Africa.
Great things, however, often have humble beginnings.
And so it was with Asante Kotoko.
IT STARTED WITH RAINBOW
The story actually goes back to 1924 and a football enthusiast named Kwasi Kuma.
Kuma was a driver who had worked for an army officer named Colonel Ross. While in Accra, he witnessed a match between Accra Standfast and Accra Hearts of Oak at the Government Technical School Park.
Hearts won 2-1.
The occasion apparently made a tremendous impression on him. Sir Gordon Frederick Guggisberg, then Governor of the Gold Coast, presented Hearts with a set of jerseys, and Kuma returned from the match inspired by what he had seen.
Towards the end of 1924, Colonel Ross left the country and Kuma returned to Kumasi. Before leaving Accra, he bought some jerseys and footballs.
Once back in the Garden City, he gathered 13 young men and formed a football club.
He called it Kumasi Rainbow.
Before then, two clubs dominated football in Kumasi — Evertons and Royals.
Evertons drew much of their strength from the Roman Catholic School and had players such as Onsunyameye Amissah, Kwaku Renner, Sey and Bowma. Royals, meanwhile, boasted stalwarts including D.M. Forson, Adu-Gyamfi, Davies, Rockson and Amihere of the Wesleyan School, now Methodist.
Rainbow initially proved no match for these established sides.
Kwasi Kuma, however, was determined to build a first-class team.
He approached the local Government School, where he met teachers Mr Kanin and Mr Henry Prempeh, and explained his ambition. He specifically wanted promising Ashanti boys who could play football.
A few youngsters were recruited. Other hidden talents were discovered at the E.C.M. (Anglican) and A.M.E. Zion schools.
Together with boys recruited from around the town, they formed Ashanti United Football Club in 1926.
Rainbow disappeared into the ashes of history.
ASHANTI UNITED IS BORN
The inauguration of Ashanti United took place at Kwasi Kuma’s house in Ashanti New Town.
Among those invited were Mr J.S. Kankam, then with Messrs Drewery and Company; the late Quarshie, who later became Boamanhene; and Mr J.K. Darkwa, then a U.A.C. storekeeper with Swanzy.
Kuma provided two bottles of whisky costing 10 shillings each — quite a substantial amount in those days.
Libation was poured by Mr Darkwa, invoking the spirits of the ancestors to help the new club survive.
Among the early office bearers were Mr L.Y. Asamoah, an electrical contractor; Mr J.K. Darkwa; and Mr J.S. Kankam.
Kwasi Kuma became the club’s first chairman.
Ashanti United soon assembled some fine players, including Kofi Gyato, George Nuamah, E.K. Nkansah, Kwame Adjei — popularly known as Tommy — Adjei Kyem, Kwadwo Ansah and Paul Kuma.
Two years later, in 1928, the team was strengthened by the arrival of young talents such as Joshua Arthur, who later became Superintendent of Police at Winneba, Gabriel Arthur and J.E. Opoku.
Success was not long in coming.
FIRST TASTE OF GLORY
By 1929, football fever had gripped Kumasi.
A Police Magistrate, Captain W. Price-Jones, donated a silver cup for a knockout competition in the city. Each participating club was required to pay an entrance fee of 10 shillings.
Among the teams taking part were Royals, Evertons, Never Miss, Primrose, Railways, Prisons, Europeans, Army and Police.
Ashanti United began impressively, thrashing Railways 4-0 before disposing of Prisons 3-0.
Elsewhere, Primrose and the Kumasi European team reportedly drew an extraordinary seven times before Primrose eventually prevailed 2-1.
Ashanti United therefore met Primrose in the final.
The first match finished 2-2.
Two weeks later came the replay — and United won 2-1.
Captain Price-Jones presented the trophy to United skipper Tommy, and Ashanti United became the first club to have its name inscribed on the cup.
Kwasi Kuma had begun to make his mark on football in Kumasi.
FOOTBALL AT FORT PARK
The venue for football matches in Kumasi at the time was Fort Park in Stewart Avenue, on land where a government building would later stand.
Initially, no gate fees were collected.
That changed after the Ashanti Football Association was formed in 1932. To persuade supporters to pay to watch matches, an ingenious system was introduced — match tickets were entered into a raffle.
Tickets ranged from one penny to one shilling, and the holder of a winning one-shilling ticket could collect the princely sum of £10.
The arrangement continued until Jackson Park opened in 1936.
But another problem soon emerged.
The Kumasi Public Health Board — later the Kumasi City Council — deducted an astonishing 66⅔ per cent of gate receipts, apparently on the grounds that it was responsible for maintaining the field.
Imagine the financial embarrassment that caused the clubs!
The situation continued until 1943, when the reorganised Ashanti Football Association protested. Clubs boycotted Jackson Park for nearly four months.
The matter was eventually raised at the Council, and the crippling 66⅔ per cent deduction was substantially reduced to 25 per cent.
FROM ASHANTI UNITED TO TITANICS
By the 1930s, football support in Kumasi had developed a character of its own.
Supporters could even be identified by their weekly turnouts. Fans wore jerseys and hoses associated with their clubs — although conspicuously without football boots. Some completed the outfit with canvas shoes.
Ashanti United was by then competing strongly with Evertons and Royals for the affection of the Garden City.
But despite its growing popularity, internal problems emerged.
Financial difficulties and leadership disputes resulted in another change of identity.
In 1931, Ashanti United became Titanics Football Club.
Leadership in those days was no small responsibility.
There were few reliable sources of income, and travelling expenses often had to be borne by the clubs themselves. A chairman therefore needed not only enthusiasm but deep pockets. He might even be expected to find employment for players.
Yaw Asamoah boldly assumed leadership of Titanics.
The club remained one of Kumasi’s most attractive teams and developed a large following. Titanics reached the final of the Asantehene’s Cup, where they reportedly held Prisons to four draws before finally succumbing.
Then came another difficult period.
In 1934, several players employed by the Prisons, Railways and other organisations were transferred away from Kumasi.
Titanics struggled to replace them.
As Mr Gyimah, sports writer of the defunct Ashanti Pioneer, later described them, they became “a struggling lot.”
Perhaps the name Titanics was simply not bringing much luck!
Then came 1935.
And everything changed.
ASANTE KOTOKO IS BORN
J.S.K. Frimpong, popularly known as Teacher Frimpong, was then teaching at the local Government School, later Asem Middle Boys School.
He recruited some boys from his school to strengthen the struggling side.
But he went further.
With special permission from the Asantehene, the name Titanics was abandoned.
A new name was chosen.
Asante Kotoko.
The significance was immense.
“Kotoko” — the porcupine — carried the symbolism of the Ashanti nation itself. This was no ordinary football name.
The monumental change took place on August 31, 1935.
Chiefs, clergymen, members of the intelligentsia and hundreds of men, women and children reportedly gathered in gala attire for the inauguration of the new club.
Teacher Frimpong addressed the gathering and threw open the doors of Asante Kotoko to all Ashantis.
He declared that the club’s motto would be:
“Excelsior” — higher and higher.
His message was one of courage and ambition: the club should continue moving forward whether misunderstood or appreciated, never allowing itself to be discouraged by the words or deeds of others.
It should, he said, strive to leave behind “footprints on the sands of time.”
What prophetic words they proved to be.
Nana Boakye Yamoa, Atipinhene of Kumasi, assured the gathering of his support and expressed the hope that the newly formed Asante Kotoko Football Club would succeed.
The pioneer officers included Mr J.K. Darkwa as President, Mr John Darkwa as Treasurer and Mr J.K. Osei as Secretary, with Mr Kwame Frimpong and Mr Opong serving as trainers.
The Asantehene, Nana Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, together with Nana Atipinhene and Nana Anantahene, became patrons of the club.
The day’s historic proceedings ended with the pouring of libation, invoking the traditional gods to guide, guard and “inspirit” the new club.
And after that colourful ceremony on August 31, 1935?
Well, what followed is history.
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO AFRICAN GIANTS
Few of those gathered that day could possibly have imagined the football institution their new club would become.
Kotoko would grow from those humble beginnings into one of the great names of African football.
Its supporters proudly recall the many landmarks associated with the Fabulous club: among the earliest Ghanaian sides to embrace boots, a club capable of supplying a remarkable number of players to the national team, pioneers in employing professional coaching expertise, and a side that once negotiated an entire National League campaign of 22 matches without defeat.
Then came continental glory.
Kotoko conquered Africa for the first time in 1970, winning what was then the African Cup of Champions Clubs. They would reach the summit again in 1983, cementing their place among the continent’s great football institutions.
From Rainbow to Ashanti United.
From Ashanti United to Titanics.
And finally, on August 31, 1935, from Titanics emerged the name that would resonate far beyond Kumasi and Ghana:
Fabulous Asante Kotoko.
Ninety-one years later, the fortunes of the club may rise and fall. Generations of players, administrators and supporters may come and go.
But the history remains.
And for the faithful followers of the Porcupine Warriors, there will always be that old aspiration handed down from Teacher Frimpong at the club’s birth:
Excelsior — higher and higher.
Happy 91st birthday to Fabulous Asante Kotoko.
Cheers everybody, and keep loving sports.
