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 Stephen Oduro wants more playing time
By: Jerome Otchere
Posted: 9th April 2008
To assert that Stephen Oduro lighted the Baba Yara Sports Stadium last Sunday will be stating the obvious fact. Although he played barely fifth teen minutes of the game, Stephen Oduro proved that he is still a force to reckon with when it comes to intelligence, skill and pace in the midfield play.
Oduro showed great dexterity with the ball and his performance left many Kotoko supporters wondering why he has not be featuring regularly in the club’s matches.
Why Stephen Oduro does not play regularly in Kotoko matches is a question that ought to left to Coach Bashir Hayford to answer since he knows best. However in an interview with the Kotoko Express after last Sunday’s 4-1 victory over Wikki Tourist in the Confederation Cup 1/16th stage second leg encounter, Stephen Oduro did not hide his desire to have more playing time in Kotoko’s Africa campaign and indeed the Onetouch Premier League.
“As a footballer, I respect the selection my coach makes for every match but to be honest, I want to given more playing time” said the skillful midfielder who was once referred to as the fan belt of Kotoko’s midfield. Stephen Oduro did not discount the role played by his colleagues in Kotoko’s forward match but he insisted that there was more he could deliver if given enough time on the field of play. “It will be wrong to say that my colleagues do not play well. We are a team. Everybody does his best to ensure victory. Our individual performance comes together to gives us victory but then I believe there is more I can offer” he stated.
He contested the assertion that he was old and that there was little he could give to Kotoko in terms of performance. Stephen Oduro said whoever doubted his ability to perform had either not seen him on the pitch or was only being unfair. “I do not have much to say on the question of age because of those who talk about that are not realistic. They do not know me. I think I am even better than I used to be. If I am given the chance, I will prove those critics wrong” he promised.
Throughout this season, one of the things that have been working well for Kotoko has been the technical bench’s beautiful blend of young and experience players. Against Wikki Tourists in Bauchi Nigeria, young Daniel Nii Adjei and Skipper Emmanuel Osei Kuffour who had seen it all in Africa club competitions scored as Kotoko fetched a vital 2-2 draw.
 Again on Sunday, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour opened the score sheet before young, enterprising Eric Bekoe and Francis Coffie came in with three goals with the former scoring twice. Sharing his thoughts on Sunday’s game as well as the use of young and experience players in Kotoko, Stephen Oduro pointed out that no good team would progress without young and experience players.
“They are those who make the team. You cannot play with one group all the time. The senior players guide the young players. That has been one of the secrets of Kotoko. Whether young or old, we are ready to perform anytime, anywhere to make the supporters happy” he said.
The midfielder described Kotoko’s performance against Wikki Tourists as good saying, “We have to thank God because he gives us the strength to play. Everybody you ask will have an opinion on the match. I think it was good. I pray that we will progress nicely” he concluded.
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