Meteors pip Kotoko in Special friendly

–But Johnson Smith says no fears!

Correspondent: Jerry Afriyie and Jerome Otchere    Accra

4th September 2007

 Although Asante Kotoko lost by a lone goal to the national Olympic team the Black Meteors in a special friendly match at the El-Wak stadium in Accra last Sunday, Assistant Coach Johnson Smith says the performance of the team was encouraging vis-a –vis the quality of opposition the national side provided.

“It was a good exercise for both sides and our preparation is on course. Now we have the squad and what the technical team is doing is transforming the squad into a solid team that will be the pride of Kotoko supporters, Coach Smith told the Kotoko Express in a post match interview. The team will be in good shape by the end of the road show which we are using to sharpen the rough edges of the team. The squad would be further trimmed to thirty-five players by the time the exercise is over so what we are doing now is further testing the players to see those who can make the grade after raising the bar” he noted.

He said the technical team will pay more attention to goal scoring during this period of the pre-season training “I agree that goal scoring is the biggest problem with the team but although it is not the only problem, we are going to give special attention to goal scoring which means that even tough we are not looking at recruiting more players, we will look at an exceptional striker desirous of joining Kotoko that is if he is really exceptional” He stated.

“We are also trying several options including using a strategy that will create the opportunity for midfielders to score when the going gets tough for the strikers and that is what you saw especially in the second half of the game”. Johnson Smith promised that the team will churn out a better performance in their second match against Kpando Heart of Lions in their second match at the same venue tomorrow. Last Sunday’s match was in honour of the late Alhaji Bimbo, owner of Mamobi Midjiland F.C and a member of the Black Meteors management committee who passed away recently.

Watched by quite a significant number of spectators, last Sunday’s match was the first of the series of friendly games management in conjunction with the technical bench have arranged for the club as the pre-season programme continues. Kotoko’s starting line-up in the game comprised three newly recruited players – Isaac Anderson, Samuel Inkoom and Kwadwo Poku.

Coach Bashir Hayford for the first time was not on the bench. His deputy, John Smith however directed affairs firmly in the absence of his boss who was away to Ekumfi Nkroful where his late mother was buried last Saturday. Kotoko was formidable from defence to attack throughout the first forty-five minutes. Isaac Anderson, Samuel Inkoom, Adamu Mohammed and Prince Anokye played with determination and much seriousness. Inkoom proved to be swift and intelligent operating on the left side of defence.

His colleague on the right Isaac Anderson also showed immense confidence as he came in with timely clearances and interceptions. Prince Anokye showed a lot of brilliance and maturity but his counterpart Adamu Mohammed appeared too strong for the Meteors players. He was in fact booked. The compact nature of the defence propelled the midfield manned by the Daniel Nii Adjei, Stephen Oduro, George Yamoah and Douglas Nkrumah to multiply in attack with confidence.

Nii Adjei usually came in with powerful long shots but none was on target. As a result Kotoko missed numerous chances upfront. Stephen Oduro took absolute control of the midfield. Oduro beat his challengers with cheeky easy, connecting George Yamoah and Douglas Nkrumah who in turn found Kwame Obeng Darko and Kwadwo Poku only for them to falter sometimes at very close range. George Yamoah and Douglas Nkrumah were effective on the flanks in the first half but having burnt great energy; the duo could not keep-up the same pace in the second half.

Kobina Dodzie and Osei Kwame Junior replaced George Yamoah and Douglas Nkrumah respectively. These substitutions had little impact on Kotoko’s performance as the players looked tired. The Black Meteors came under intense pressure in the first-half. However they were able to hold themselves together against the Porcupine Warriors marauding attacks initiated from midfield. What changed the game in favour of the Meteors was their 53rd minute goal occasioned by a defensive error which was perfectly exploited by Kwadwo Asamoah. After gaining control of the ball from a Francis Akwaffo cross which the defence failed to clear, the striker rounded up goalkeeper Isaac Amoako before planting the ball calmly into the net.

Coach John Smith again pulled out Kwame Obeng Darko for Arhin-Duah and Stephen Oduro for David Sarkodie. These two substitutions however did little to improve Kotoko’s attacking machinery which lacked bite. Most of the Kotoko players appeared tired and thus were unable to take on their opponents as they had done in the first-half. Meteors Coach Cecil Jones Attuquayefio introduced more players into the game. His substitutions paid off a great deal as his side was clearly on top in the latter stages of the game.

Not even the sending off of Jerry Akaminko by Referee Ebenezer Ferguson in the 77th minute for a second bookable offence could hamper their resolve to maintain the 1-0 lead.

 Kotoko line-up: Isaac Amoako, Isaac Anderson, Samuel Inkoom, Adamu Mohammed, Prince Anokye, Nii Adjei, George Yamoah/Kobina Dodzie, Stephen Oduro/David Sarkodie, Kwame Obeng Darko/Nana Arhin-Duah, Kwadwo Poku, Douglas Nkrumah/Osei Kwame Junior.