Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Kennedy Agyepoong
A business mogul based in Accra, Kennedy Somuah Agyepong, has expressed his undying gratitude to the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for embracing him as a loyalist of his monarchy, and the Ashanti Kingdom.
“I remember him, in prayers, always. I’ll never forget him, for giving me a chance to serve Kotoko and Asanteman,” said Agyepong, known in sporting circles as Kenpong, on Sunday, the last day of the Winneba-based Kenpong Football Academy’s tour of Kumasi, capital of the Ashanti Region.
In 2003, after distinguishing himself as a moneybag management member of the Herbert Mensah administration of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, dating from 1999, Kenpong found great favour with the Asantehene.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II appointed him to a board, including Osei Kwame, founder of the Despite Group of Companies, Kwabena Kessie, founder of the Kessben Group of Companies, and the leader, former PNDC Prime Minister, the late Paul Victor Obeng, to continue to serve Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Asanteman.
“This is not the first time,” said Kenpong, of Otumfuo’s prompt helping hand, in the businessman’s time of need.
“During my mother’s funeral, Otumfuo dispatched a bus full of his envoys, a huge delegation of about 40 chiefs, in all shades of kente, announced by great drums of the Ashanti Kingdom, to support, and mourn with me, at Kwahu Mpraeso.
“Also, the Emperor honoured my late mother with a ring, with which we adorned her, symbolising an insignia of the Empire State of Asanteman, which was announced to great applause, at the funeral.
“To this date, that great show of support by His Majesty, himself, has left an indelible imprint in the minds of all who hail from there. He makes me feel like an Ashanti, completely. I’ll never forget him,” promised Kenpong.
“Also, I thank the chiefs and the linguists, serving under Otumfuo, and all of Asanteman, for receiving us (Kenpong Football Academy) in such a wonderful way. I’ll never forget.”
At the start of the tour, the Kenpong Football Academy made a courtesy call on the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, led by former superstar defender of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Kwasi Appiah, also a former Black Stars coach.
Other members of the delegation included Francis Oti Akenten, the immediate past Technical Director of the Ghana Football Association, himself a former national team coach, and former stalwart defenders of Asante Kotoko and the Black Stars, Frimpong Manso and Emmanuel Ampeah.
Nana Atta Poku, a nephew of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, received the delegation to the seat of power, at the Manhyia Palace.
On behalf of Kenpong, Nana Atta Poku informed His Majesty, the Asantehene, that it was the aim of the Kenpong Academy to raise players as a nursery team for Otumfuo’s own team, Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
Explaining the rationale, Nana Atta Poku, the director of urban roads, in Kumasi, himself an engineer, said the academy, dedicated to Otumfuo for the benefit of Asanteman, would guarantee Kotoko a reliable conveyer belt of talents to fit its needs, at any given time.
Agyepong founded the Kenpong Football Academy on February 28, this year, and entrusted it to the tutelage of accomplished former national team coaches, Kwasi Appiah and Oti Akenten, endowed with a supporting cast including former Black Stars pivots, Emmanuel Armah and Edward Ansah.
From The Sports Desk
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