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Kotoko to break Liberty at El-Wak
Preview: Jerome Otchere
As Kotoko tightens its grips on the Onetouch Premier League table, the club will naturally face stiff opposition from clubs particularly those that are on its heels. Second placed Kpando Heart of Lions and third positioned Liberty Professionals are the clubs being referred to here.
But having already dealt with the stubborn Heart of Lions, Kotoko would have to work harder than to overcome the scientific soccer lads tomorrow at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra as the two teams clash in the match day twenty-two fixtures of the Onetouch Premier League.
In the first round, the Porcupine Warriors through Eric Bekoe piped the Dansoman based club 1-0 at the Sunyani Coronation Park in what was a real fierce battle. On Saturday, Liberty Professionals will no doubt that give Kotoko another tough challenge this time at their adopted home. Coach Bashir Hayford is confident that, no matter high the Liberty hurdle will be, Kotoko would definitely emerge victorious at the end of ninety minutes.
Sharing his expectations with Kotoko Express after beating Kessben FC 2-0 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Wednesday, Coach Bashir Hayford admitted that Liberty Professional was a strong side with a good technical bench, quality players and a modicum of support in Accra.
He said he had assessed Liberty Professionals’ strengths and weaknesses and therefore had developed an excellent strategy to win tomorrow’s game even if he would miss some key players. For the third game running, Kotoko will lose the services of some of its brilliant players. Against Hearts of Oak, Prince Anokye and Daniel Nii Adjei were on suspension after accumulating three yellow cards. Harrison Afful was also on national duty in Australia with the senior national team, the Black Stars. He could not return in good time for that crunch match.
The absence of these three influential players in the Kotoko set-up was obvious. Tomorrow at the El-Wak Sports Stadium, striker Eric Bekoe and Harrison Afful currently in Black Stars camp preparing for the 2010 Africa-World Cup preliminary round match against Libya, will not be in Kotoko’s line-up. Most Kotoko supporters have been worried with that news but not Coach Bashir Hayford.
The technical handler told this paper that he had adequate plans to make up for the absence of Eric Bekoe and Harrison Afful. “Every player at Kotoko at the moment is good. The point is that they all cannot play at the same time. That is why we registered more players. When given the chance, every player will prove a point” the coach said.
Liberty Professional has constantly done well against Kotoko both in Kumasi and Accra but they lose in the end. Kotoko therefore has recorded more wins over them whether at home or away. If that is anything to go by, then the fabulous boys could have their sixteenth win out of twenty-one games this season against the scientific soccer lads who lost 3-1 to Zaytuna United on Wednesday.
Kotoko must be composed in defence as well as other departments of the game. At the time Eric Nii Baah is nursing a head injury with Abdoulaye Soulama already out with a swollen foot, Isaac Amoako will predictably man the post for Kotoko. Samuel Inkoom, Prince Anokye, George Asare could maintain their positions much like Isaac Anderson.
Midfielders Jordan Opoku, Daniel Nii Adjei and Francis Akwaffo are likely bets for first team selection. However, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour whose performance in the last two games has not been that impressive could make way for Stephen Oduro. Kwadwo Poku’s form undoubtedly is getting better. As a result, it will be quite illogical for him to be on the bench particularly when Eric Bekoe will not be featured.
Francis Coffie could well make a return following his absence in Wednesday’s outing against Kessben FC. Whichever team Kotoko parades, Liberty will not be mince meat. They will be a hard not to crack by all standards. They will really test Kotoko’s resolve not lose in Accra this season. An observation made by Kotoko Express indicates that Liberty Professionals have been quite physical in the last few matches against Kotoko. The Porcupine Warriors start as favourites but must brace themselves up for a difficult challenge.
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