Posted: 24th April 2008

Kumasi Asante Kotoko will have a huge mountain to climb this Sunday in Calabar, Nigeria when it plays as guests of Dolphins FC in the 1/8thh stage, first leg encounter of the CAF Confederation Cup. Kotoko reached this stage after beating another Nigerian opponent Wikki Tourists of Bauchi 6-3 on aggregate.

As the Porcupine Warriors prepare for Dolphins FC, a non premier league club, Coach Bashir Hayford and his charges are not oblivious of the test that awaits them this Sunday.

The Porcupine Warriors beat regional rivals Ashantigold 2-1 on Sunday to win the magnificent Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Cup. Since the end of that game, analyses have been made of Kotoko’s performance vis-à-vis Sunday’s potential cagey encounter. While many believe that Kotoko has all it takes to triumph over the Nigerians others are cautioning that it would not be in Kotoko’s interest to be complacent.

Kotoko beat Wikki Tourists 4-1 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in the second leg match. Despite scoring four times and conceding one goal, the general opinion after the match was that the performance exhibited by the Porcupines was not convincing. Quick references have been made to the seeming cracks in defence as well as the lack of compact play in the midfield.

On Sunday the midfield was strong and organised but in central defence was a problem. So what plans does have the technical bench to strength the defence and other departments of the team? What has been on the mind of Coach Bashir Hayford in particular from the day Kotoko eliminated Wikki Tourists? What are the expectations of the players? How are they preparing on personal levels to take on players of Dolphins FC?

What do Directors of Communication and Operations Kwame Baah-Nuakoh and Jerry Asare respectively make of Kotoko’s preparation so far? Will it be another comfortable draw or an outright win on Sunday?

These are some of the questions Kotoko Express put to Coach Bashir Hayford, Physical Trainer Awudu Nuhu, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, Daniel Acquah, Samuel Inkoom, Francis Coffie and two management members ahead of Sunday’s game.

As expected Coach Bashir Hayford talked about the progress of the team’s training sessions. He said everything had been orderly and that he was expecting an exciting match in Nigeria.

The coach predicted a win for Kotoko but was quick to add that they were not underestimating the chances of their opponents. Coach Bash intimated that he was not leaving anything to chance. “It is hard work because that is what has given us the good results. We have to continue working. Doing the good things that have brought thus far” he said.

Physical Trainer Awudu Nuhu on his part did not mince words about the need to get the players in the right physical condition for what he referred to as a tough assignment. Awudu Nuhu maintained that there was the likelihood that the Porcupines will be overstretched because the Nigerians would do everything to secure results that would make the second leg a much easier assignment.

“We therefore have to toughen the players here so that they will be able to contain any bad situation there”.

It is common knowledge that the team has been training as one unit and strategizing for the match. However have the players been doing anything on individually?

Emmanuel Osei Kuffour first answered that question in the affirmative before saying, “Apart from the team’s normal training, instructions from the technical handlers I have been looking back on my performance. I think on how I can improve all the time” he said.

Samuel Inkoom also disclosed what he has been doing. “Personal training is important. Besides doing something physical like running, pondering over how I performed previous matches helps a lot.

That is what I have been doing”.

Francis Coffie, whose confidence seems to be soaring after every game, pointed out that he has been working on his stamina.

Daniel Acquah also touched on stamina. He gave the assurance that he would give out his best anytime he is fielded. Kwame Baah-Nuakoh advised the players to utilize their chances. Jerry Asare on the other hand warned against complacency. The two management members were convinced the team would not fail in Nigeria.

The players who made the trip to Nigeria are goalkeepers Soulama Abdoulaye and Isaac Amoako, Samuel Inkoom, Harrison Afful, Osei Kwame Junior, George Asare, Daniel Acquah and Prince Anokye. The rest are Daniel Nii Adjei, Jordan Opoku, Francis Akwaffo, Ofosu Amoah, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour and Stephen Oduro. The others include Eric Bekoe, Kwabena Yaro, Eric Opoku and Prince Amponsah.  

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