A legend of Asante Kotoko, John Smith Bannerman has suggested that a lack of competition within the current playing body is a factor that stifles team’s growth and overall sporting success of the club.

Bannerman believes, there should be much competition among the players as this pushes them to challenge each other in training and in matches to give their best.

According to him, a lack of competition causes players to be complacent, a trait that doesnt help in their improvement.

John Smith Bannerman disclosed this in an interview with Kumasi-based Silver FM about the current state of the club.

Asante Kotoko lost out to the Ghana Premier League title to bitterest rival Accra Hearts of Oak and also failed to make any inroads in Africa. The latest disappointment at continental level prolongs the club’s pursuit of glory at such stage since 1983.

Bannerman believes, management should strive to assemble a highly competitive squad where players challenge each other to become better on a daily basis.

“Those in charge don’t recruit the right players for Asante Kotoko. Asante Kotoko must have players who are fighters, full of courage and have the necessary skill and speed needed to thrive in football,” he told Silver FM.

“Kotoko must have exceptional players on top of their form. You cannot just recruit any player to represent Kotoko.

“During our time there was fierce competition in the team. In every team, a lack of competition doesn’t allow for improvement. There were three typical ‘number 7’ players when I joined Kotoko. There was Owusu Sekyere, Peter Okyere and John Kennedy. I added to the list to make it four. So there was fierce competition because everyone wanted to make the starting list.

“Presently I don’t see any competition in Kotoko. If there’s no competition, a team doesn’t not make inroads,” he concluded.

Bannerman belongs to the Asante Kotoko squad that won the club’s second and last Africa Club of Champions cup in 1983.