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Revenge, as Kotoko vow to crash Ashgold
Preview by: Jerome Otchere
Posted: 17th April 2008
The battle lines have been drawn for this weekend’s Sports Writers Association of Ghana – SWAG Challenge Cup match. The venue is the Baba Yara Sports Stadium and the contenders are Ashanti regional rivals Asante Kotoko and Ashantigold FC.
This will be the second time the two clubs are meeting this season and it promises to be a fierce encounter considering the rivalry and the seeming dominance of Ashantigold over Kotoko in SWAG Cup matches.
Kotoko has won the SWAG Cup ten times whereas Ashantigold has had a feel of it on only three occasions (1994, 1995 and 2006). The pain is that all of Ashantigold’s triumphs were at the expense of Kotoko. A fourth triumph this Sunday is something Coach Bashir Hayford will like to prevent. One thing is clear which is that records in the SWAG Cup matches will not be the only thing that will spur the Porcupine Warriors on to crash the Miners.
The Obuasi based club is the only side that defeated Kotoko in the first round of the Onetouch Premier League. Thus aside reversing their poor run against the Obuasi based club in SWAG matches, the Porcupine Warriors will also seek to avenge the 1-0 defeat they suffered at the notorious Berekum Golden City Park.
The two clubs entered this year’s African club competitions with Ashantigold playing in the Champions League and Kotoko participating in the Confederation Cup. However Ashantigold recently crashed out of the competition after their inability to reverse a 3-0 drubbing suffered at the hands of J. S. Kabylie in the Algerian capital Algiers. Kotoko on the other hand walloped Wikki Tourists of Nigeria 4-1 in Kumasi following a pulsating 2-2 draw in Buachi, Nigeria.
On that basis Kotoko are in a better shape than the Ashantigold whose technical handler David Duncan may not be on the bench for the miners in the match on Sunday. David Duncan is reported to have been engaged by a South African club and is on the verge of saying good bye to Ashantigold. David Duncan’ absence would be de-motivating for the Ashantigold players.
In fact, it will be a disincentive to the entire team. Whoever takes over from David Duncan will not be able to map out effective strategies to beat Kotoko. The Porcupines will have no such worries as Coach Bashir Hayford will be on the bench to confidently direct affairs.
The Baba Yara Sports Stadium is certainly an excellent venue for football matches. It has however been an uncomfortable place for visiting teams. Every side that Kotoko has hosted at the Baba Yara Stadium this season with the exception of the local Black Stars has lost. Baba Yara is therefore Kotoko’s fortress. Admittedly Ashantigold is no mean a side.
The Miners have fairly young players just like Kotoko. The brilliance of these young players will be put on display. Kotoko though seems to have the upper hand talking about quality players. Fatau Dauda for example is talented but not better than Soulama Abdoulaye. Mubarak Wakasu who is usually part of the Miners’ attack is good yet should Kotoko’s attacking machinery led by Eric Bekoe find its rhythm, Ashantigold would be in serious trouble.
One area Kotoko has to improve and be careful is in defence. Against Wikki Tourists the central defensive pair of Daniel Acquah and Prince Anokye did not work efficiently. The duo committed too many avoidable mistakes. There were defensive blunders. Kotoko luckily escaped unscathed as the Nigerians attack lacked the need bite to punish Kotoko.
Any such blunder on Sunday will be costly as the Miners would not spare Kotoko as Wikki Tourist did. Four Kotoko players namely Nana Arhin-Duah, Ofosu Amoah, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour and Isaac Amoako will be playing against their former club should they be fielded. All these players have the requisite experience and temperament to ensure a Kotoko victory. The Porcupine Warriors starts as favourites. They must guard against complacency and too many errors since Ashantigold could capitalise on that to cause havoc.
Rates for the match
Popular Stand – 3 Ghana cedis
Centre Line - 5 Ghana cedis
VIP Lower Deck – 10 Ghana cedis
VIP Upper Deck - 12 Ghana cedis
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