Kotoko ready to demolish Hearts

Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s date with Hearts of Oak this Sunday promises to be a thrilling encounter for many reasons, with the conspicuous one being that Kotoko are in their best form whereas Hearts are struggling to find their feet in the competition.

The sharp contrast in the performance of the two clubs give Kotoko supporters in particular, a strong feeling that for once the outcome of a Hearts-Kotoko game will be based on the team that is in best shape.

Kotoko has not beaten Hearts in a league match in Accra since 1993. The Porcupine Warriors have set their minds on breaking that record no matter what happens. Hearts may not be playing well but any sense of complacency on Kotoko’s part could be very costly. Kotoko last Wednesday beat Heart of Lions 3-2 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in a match that saw the visitors piling intense pressure on the home team throughout the game. The Lions fought Kotoko robustly but the resilience of Kotoko was too strong to be broken.

Should the Porcupine Warriors improve on the performance on Sunday; Hearts will have no place to hide. The Phobians were supposed to play Zaytuna United yesterday. The outcome of that match will one way or the other affect the psychology of the Phobians but the reality is that defeat will surely dampen their morale for Sunday. Pressure has been on Hearts’ management, technical bench and players to deliver. But at best, Hearts’ players have been lethargic. Their new coach inspired them to a 3-1 victory over Gabonese side FC 105 in the MTN/CAF Champions League but they still failed to qualify to the next stage of the competition.

Coach Bash has said that there will be no pressure on Kotoko but from all indications great pressure will be mounting on Hearts’ new coach and his players as well as their management especially knowing that Kotoko’s current team has an unconquerable spirit. The last time the two sides met in the league Hearts won 3-1 and they could draw a lot of inspiration from that. The truth however is that inspiration alone cannot determine who wins Sunday’s game.

It will take serious tactical strategies, total confidence on the part of the players and of course the creation and conversion of chances to determine who emerges victorious. If foreknowledge of opponents’ players and strategies work well for coaches in the game of football, then Kotoko start as favourites. Coach Bash has been with his players for a longer period than his opponent. Hearts’ Israeli coach does know much about his players not to talk of Kotoko.

Kotoko pitched camp at a secret location just after beating Heart of Lions 3-2. The team is leaving no stone unturned to make Hearts of Oak and their supporters more miserable than they have been since the league started. Coach Bash has kept faith with certain players in Kotoko’s twelve matches but it is still difficult predicting Kotoko line-up for Sunday though the obvious fact is that player for player, Kotoko is miles ahead of the Phobians.

Coach Bash told this paper on Wednesday that his side was ready for Hearts. He declined to comment on his strategies for the game. And as if to confirm his initial assertion that there was no pressure on Kotoko, Coach Bashir Hayford described Sunday’s encounter as a normal game. Sunday’s game may not be a normal league match as Coach Bash sees it but however one looks at the game, it will add more excitement to the age-long rivalry between Kotoko and Hearts. The supporters will argue a lot but by the 5pm on Sunday, we will see who will talk loudest.

Preview By Jerome Otchere