“Playing Hearts is the easiest”-Prince Anokye

6th June 2007

Five days before the crucial Top 4 match between Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak, youngster Prince Anokye was spotted under one of the trees at the Kotoko training grounds with both palms supporting his cheeks. He seemed to be in a thinking mood and whatever he was thinking of at the moment, one could tell he was hundred percent concentrating as numerous shouts and gestures by this reporter to attract his attention prove futile.

When I finally pulled him along, I asked why he was in that mood and this was his reply

“My brother it’s about the Heart of Oak match oo, I have two things in mind and I am really troubled. The fact is, I have never played against Hearts of Oak and you know what that means. It is the dream of every player to be in action during the biggest match of the Ghanaian calander.I am just thinking about what to do so as to be selected for this encounter by the coach. It has always been a dream to play and defeat Hearts and I bet you I will help Kotoko to beat Hearts if I am selected”.

Osei Kwame, a close friend of Anokye then appeared and retorted

“Playing against Hearts is one of the easiest matches, the tension is there alight but hundred percent concentration and playing to the instructions you are given by the coach. You relax should you be selected, do exactly what you are told and you will realise it’s not difficult to play Hearts”

Luckily for Anokye, his hard work at the training grounds paid off and was selected to be in the heart of the Kotoko defence. The player churned out such a splendid performance in the match and it was the belief of most of the spectators that he should have been judged the most valuable player instead of Hearts Stanley Afeidzie.Anokye was the toast of the Kotoko fans in Cape Coast after the match for putting the breaks on Ishmael Addo and Eric Gawu.

Speaking to the Kotoko Express later at the dressing room, the player who is a product of the Kotoko Youth side said the 3-1 score line represents the commitment and desire of the playing body “to pay Hearts back in their own coin and give our supporters something to cheer about and pacify them for the wrongs we committed last season”. He said the playing body resolved not to give up after Hearts scored the first goal as they knew Hearts are beatable and Kotoko were better on the day. He prophesised that the days of Hearts domination over Kotoko is over and there is no looking back as he and his colleagues especially those with no previous medal collection at the top level are determined to lift the Top 4 trophy for Asante Kotoko.