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Players sure of victory in Nigeria
By Boakye-Agyemang and Bernard Nyankomago
18th March 2008
Ahead of their first Confederation Cup match against Wikki Tourists of Nigeria, players of Kumasi Asante Kotoko are in no mood to lose grounds as they seek an away win on Saturday. The Kotoko team is expected to leave Ghana this morning and the players have told the Kotoko Express that they are in the best of moods to chalk an away win so as to make the return leg a mere exercise.
“Some of us have been in the system for a much longer time and we know the terrain very well. The fact that for almost ten years I have played in Africa gives me an idea of the opposition we are going to face. It will be a herculean task but we trust our technical handlers to teach us how to overcome the seemingly danger Wikki will pose”, said Dan Acquah, one of the senior players in the team.
His assertion was added to by colleague Nana Arhin Duah who quickly reminded this reporter of the name of their opponents.
“Wikki Tourists from Nigeria? They are tourists in this competition and it is not their fault that the tour will have to be cut short in the first match as they are not responsible for the pairings. From what I have heard and the few matches we watched on DSTV they are a good side and start pummelling opponents from the very beginning but that ended in the last match they played".
"Kotoko is the club they least expected to meet and we must live up to that status. I know we have the men to take them out and only pray for luck, we shall overcome”, said Arhin Duah, who has played in both the Champions League and Confederation Cup final.
Jordan Opoku, one of the several players who are making their continental debut told Kotoko Express that though it will be the first time if selected, he has played against several African opposition which gives him an idea as to what to expect in Bauchi, Nigeria.
He said he is very happy he is playing in Africa and that means he made the right decision in joining Asante Kotoko
“I know I will be playing the Champions League proper next season but before that, we have some stubborn teams to deal with and that starts with the Nigerians. This match is a Ghana – Nigeria affair and they will be looking for the opportunity to defeat us so as to console themselves after the Black Stars whipped them".
"That will however not materialize as we hate to lose. I hope our form in the Ghanaian league is translated unto the continental zone.”
A lot more of the players seemed very hopeful of the outcome of the match but skilful defender, Osei Kwame, is calling for caution as the team plays its first match in Africa this season.
He explained that much as the Kotoko team is in top form, serious care should be taken not to underrate the opposition adding that the watchword for the players should be cautiously optimistic.
Prince Anokye and Samuel Inkoom are two of the defenders who would make sure no ball is picked from the Kotoko net and they are more than aware of this fact.
The players said they have heard about how away teams suffer in continental matches but they are not going to allow any official to take their destinies into his hands. They told Kotoko Express that God willing, Kotoko will win in Nigeria.
In a related development, our roving reporter, Bernard Nyankomago reports that players of the champions club, Kumasi Asante Kotoko have urged loyal fans and sympathizers of the club to take heart and only prays for the team as Kotoko clash with their Nigerian counterpart, Wikki Tourist this weekend.
According to them, they are battle ready for the game and confident that come Saturday, before the centre referee will blow his last whistle to mark the end of the crucial encounter, supporters could see their beloved club ascending to the African throne again.
Hear them “As far as preparations are concern, there is nothing to worry about. The technical bench has taught us a lot. Moreover, we are most grateful that there are no injuries in the team. As you can see, we are all fit and battle ready for the game. All what we need is total support and prayers from the fans and we shall be cruising to final whistle as victors”.
According to the players, whether their opponents are describing themselves as underdogs or not, they are going for nothing less than victory to make the second round a mere formality and also to keep their ambitions for the ultimate trophy alive.
Expressing his views about the game, skilful midfielder, Francis Akwaffo, who was part of the squad that qualified Kotoko to the group stages in 2005 for the first time in the annals of the CAF Champions league said, his hopes however lies in the fact that Wikki Tourist will open up the game to seek for goals once they are playing at home.
"When it happens like that, we would capitalizee on and punish them".
“It has been my dream to help Kotoko win a continental trophy. Though all my efforts in the past three years have been thwarted. I believe this is a great opportunity for me".
"I’m confident I have what it takes to help Kotoko win the trophy. However my attention is on Saturday’s game. We must win at all cost to make our fans proud and also to defend the good name of Kotoko and Ghana in general” Akwaffo said.
A critical looks at the eighteen man squad selected by Coach Bash to represent Kotoko have revealed that about eleven players are likely to make their debut for Kotoko in the CAF Confederation Cup. They are Burkina be goalie, Abdoulaye Soulama, Samuel Inkoom, Harrison Afful, George Asare, Prince Anokye, Jordan Opoku, Ofosu Amoah, Eric Bekoe, Kwabena Yaro, Francis Coffie and Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, the skipper of the side.
The remaining eight players comprising Nii Baah, Francis Akwaffo, Daniel Acquah, Daniel Nii Adjei, Stephen Oduro, Nana Arhin Duah and Osei Kwame Jnr have been consistent in Kotoko previous CAF matches.
Speaking to former Sekondi Hasaacas player, Samuel Inkoom, he expressed glee about the trip he is making to Nigerian. He added that he was not going for sight seeing but rather to do his best to ensure victory for Kotoko.
“I feel proud to be part of the eighteen players. This is the moment I have been waiting to see. I know much is expected of me. As I did in the first round matches of the league, I will do similar thing over there” he noted.
Though he was a little bit worried about the fact that most of the fans may not get the opportunity to cheer them over there, he however urged the fans to always remember them in their prayers whenever they go down on their knees.
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