I am ready for the league- Richard Manu 

Correspondent: David Kyei, Oseikrom 

15th October 2007

Having played his third match for Kotoko in the on-going pre-season training matches Kotoko’s Richard Manu has declared his readiness for the challenges that the coming season will bring his way and that of his club.

According to the player who tastes his first experience of competitive football in Ghana in the coming season, the three matches that he has played gives him a fair idea of what to expect in the Ghanaian league.

“After three matches for Kotoko, I will say that I have been served the hint of what to expect in the coming league. Though I will like to keep my observation for my self, I can hint that it is going to be an interesting one”

During his first match against the Techiman select side, Richard was visibly nervous before the match, and he offers an explanation.

“That going to be my first match for Kotoko in Ghana and so though I was used to most of the players, it was my first time to be playing in front of the vociferous fans of the club and so was a bit tensed not to disappoint”

“My apprehension was however compounded when we entered the Techiman park for me to see the patchy and rough pitch that I had to play on, but also organised my senses and told resolved that I was going to play the game like any other footballer here in Ghana will do”

“I was extremely happy that I played a good game and came out of the match without any injury. I am also happy that the Techiman centre was not one of the league centres because it would have been tough to play a match without injuries”

His joy however, he says was that, after the match, the fans trooped round the team bus to cheer them up and even gave monies to the players.

“That was the first time I was seeing supporters of a football club dash out monies to their players after a match. It really touched my heart and confirmed the information I had that the supporters of the club had a special interest in their team. That was indeed refreshing to know”

On his second match which was against Tano Bofoakwa, Manu says he really enjoyed the match and felt safe in the by playing a green turf.

“That was the reason why I was seen rushing in for all the balls and was not afraid to go in for slide tackles. I hope I did not disappoint the fans in that match too”

With the nature of the pitches in Ghana coming through once in a while in conversations with the player, one thing that he says he hopes to see is “fair officiating”.

“Football is a game that must be enjoyed and so to have a no-performing official mar the beauty of the game will be a sad case. I believe that match officials will give us the cause to have confidence in them. The fans need to enjoy what they pay to watch at matches,” he says.

With his initial apprehension over his ability to cope with the Ghanaian league over, Manu has his eyes set on something bigger.

“It will not be a bad idea for us to win the upcoming league for our fans because they deserve it. It will also be a bid moral boaster for me to win the league with Kotoko”

“I know how others will be reading into this, but I have seen my colleagues and their demeanour, and I can conclude that the team is poised for action and for a big onslaught for the league trophy,” was his reaction when asked if in his opinion, Kotoko had the materials to win the league.

“Much will also depend to the co-operation we get from our fans. I have seen them at our matches, and will like to say that they give me so much comfort in my association with Kotoko”.

“My only wish is for them to carry their patience into the league so that he get the full concentration to be able to do honours for them. I love them and their support” was how he concluded his chat with this paper.