The wife of Ghanaian football star Michael Essien, Mrs Akosua Puni has bought Italian third division Lega Pro side Calcio Como.
Mrs Puni Essien, a British citizen of Ghanaian origin bought the club for €237,000 at a bankruptcy auction held by FC Como Limited. The figure was €10,000 more than the starting price.
A press release published on the club’s website confirmed that the club is now owned by Mrs Essien and has been renamed FC Como.
“Mrs. Puni Essien and her team will soon be in our city to meet the fans and supporters of the Club. In the meantime, they intend to let you know that they are honored to be here, in Como, and become part of a club which boasts 110 years of history,” the release stated.The bankruptcy trustee disclosed that in recent months as many as 31 individuals have come forward asking for information about purchasing the cash-strapped team.
They included Chinese, Indian, Emirati, Brazilian as well as various Italian entrepreneurs but Mrs Puni Essien beat them with her bid which followed a visit to the stadium and sports center of Como a month ago.