TAWRCK NOT ON OUR MINDS — KOTOKO (GRAPHIC SPORTS, PAGE 11, OCT 22, 2010)

THE management of Kumasi Asante Kotoko has stated categorically that it has not made any formal approach to sign on Hearts of Oak prodigy, Tawrick Jibril, as media reports seem to suggest.
“Personally I see Tawrick as an intelligent player, but I can tell you for now that we have not held any talks with the player nor his manager,” Jarvis Peprah, Public Affairs Manager of Asante Kotoko, told the Graphic Sports in Kumasi last Tuesday.
Media reports and the rumour mill have been rife that the 18-year-old attacking midfielder was heading for Asante Kotoko after the club offered him a mouth-watering deal of GH¢80,000.
The player’s contract with Hearts is reported to have ended, and he and his manager were looking at other options, including a move to Kotoko.
But Mr Peprah said, “We have not made any moves for the player.”
He, however, stated that if the player expresses interest in playing for Kotoko, they (Kotoko) would take the right steps to get him into their fold.
Even then, that would depend on whether the coach would give the green light for his signing.
“We cannot sign on a player without the consent of the coach. He is the man in charge of the technical direction and is the right person to tell which player fits into his plans”, he said.
Tawrick’s manager, Prince Omar, has emphasised in various radio interviews that the player’s contract with Hearts had ended and that he was prepared to sell him to any club that meets his demands.
Omar referred to how Hearts of Oak rejected an offer of $1 million offered by Athletico Madrid to sign on the player and said he did not want situation that would spoil the future of the talented player.
Reports that Asante Kotoko had offered to pay GH¢80,000 to get the player are yet to be authenticated.
It is also said that Hearts of Oak are trying hard to retain the player by offering him GH¢50,000 but the player’s manager had rejected the amount since it was on the lower side.
Tawrick joined Hearts of Oak at the age of 15 under controversial circumstances.
Last year Prince Omar demanded a whooping $ 150,000 from Hearts of Oak if they wanted to extend his contract but discussions were stalled.