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Players declare war on Ashgold
By: Bernard Nyankomago
Posted: 17th April 2008
Anytime Kumasi Asante Kotoko play Ashgold especially in a competitive match of this nature, the atmosphere becomes electrified. The media, both print and electronic, gets filled with pre-match discussions and analysis until the curtains of the game is brought down.
The Baba Yara Sports Stadium will be the centre of attraction this Sunday as the two sides clash to vie for the SWAG Cup. As a regional derby, each side will like to win to at least show it’s superiority over the other. This is obviously going to make the game very cagey and exciting to watch.
On paper Kotoko starts as favourites in this crucial game. It is a fact that they have won the SWAG Cup on several occasions as against Ashgold who won it at the expense of Kotoko the last time the two sides met at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium.
However, the competence of Ashgold as a good side cannot be down-played here. They can boast of the fact that they are the only team to have beaten Kotoko in the first round of the Onetouch Premier League.
Is it therefore going to be revenge or an encore this time round?
Ashgold will obviously like to win this match to at least wipe away the tears of their fans who are disappointed with the team’s inability to make any progress in the MTN CAF Champions League where they lost by 0-3 aggregate to Algerian side JS Kabily.
On the other hand, Coach Bashir Hayford will go into this match with two things in mind. First is to win his second cup of the season after leading Kotoko to wallop Camian FC of Ouagadougou 4-0 in the 50th anniversary cup match played at the Baba Yara Stadium to commemorate the golden jubilee of the construction of the stadium.
Secondly, he will be seeking nothing less than victory in order to make amends for the 0-1 defeat Kotoko suffered in the league.
Judging from the determination of both teams, connoisseurs believe the match is going to be full of fireworks and that the team that will be more tactically disciplined on the field of play is going to cruise to the final whistle as winners.
Ahead of the crucial game, players of the Porcupine Warriors have vowed to demolish the Aboakeseε boys in order to pay them back in their own coin.
A cross section of the players Kotoko Express spoke with shared the same sentiment that they are in high spirits to bring another victory to Asanteman after calling the bluff of Wikki Tourists in the CAF Confederations Cup not quite long ago.
“As you can see, the morale in camp is high. We are all focusing on the game ahead. It means a lot to us. We are determine to win to serve as compensation to the fans after losing to Ashgold in the league and nothing can stop us from doing that” is how one player summed up things.
Jordan Opoku, who just came back from the Black Stars camp told Kotoko Express that he has been motivated by many factors to go for the kill against Ashgold.
“I must admit the matches I have played so far for the Black Stars have impacted positively on my performance. I have gotten a lot of experience from it. When on the field, I try to learn something from my opponent as well. With this exposure and confidence that I have, I can assure the fans that they will see me in a different form altogether in Sunday’s game against Ashgold” he assured.
“It was our target to play all the thirty matches in the league unbeaten. To our dismay, Ashgold did not allow this dream to come into reality. They served as impediment to our forward march. Now I thank God for giving us this opportunity. I believe its time for us to avenge our defeat and nothing can prevent us from doing that” said Jordan.
Asked whether most of the players still felt bitter about the SWAG Cup defeat to Ashgold about two years ago, Jordan was emphatic;
“What happened yesterday is history now. What is ahead of us is the most important thing. As you are aware, most of us were not part of that game. This is our time to achieve something great for the club. I know the game will not be won on a silver platter but we cannot afford to lose this trophy for the second time” he assured.
Giving his brief impression about the Black Stars African Championship qualifier against Niger, Jordan pointed out that it was a good start for them. He was full of praises to his colleagues for defending the good name of Ghana and hoped it will continue in the remaining matches.
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