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Colourless Kotoko lose 0-2 to Olympics
Report: Bernard Nyankomago Yeboah
Players of Kumasi Asante Kotoko have apologized to supporters of the club for their 0-2 loss in the 26th week league encounter against Accra Great Olympics at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium and have promised to win all the subsequent matches to compensate for the loss.
In a post match interview with the Kotoko Express, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, the skipper of the side on behalf of the entire playing body expressed deep regret about their inability to deliver on their promise to nail Olympics to relegation.
“We know the fans are not happy about this result. We came in for victory but unfortunately we lost the game. It’s one of those things in football so they must exercise patience and continue to support us for it will not happen again in the subsequent matches” he noted.
Supporters and officials of Accra Great Olympics who were at the stadium left in tooth paste smiles after the victory over the Porcupines though many believe it was not enough to revive their fortunes as they continue to languish at the bottom of the league table. But to them it was a sweet revenge of the 5-0 defeat they suffered in the first round at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The two goals came from Samuel Laryea and Tanko Mohammed in the 2nd and 39th minute respectively of the first half. Kotoko goalkeeper Isaac Amoako could not make a clean catch of the ball from the right flank after been fouled by Francis Mantey and Samuel Laryea wasted no time in connecting home for the first goal of the day.
Commenting on the goal, Osei Kuffour expressed shock about Referee Emmanuel Mordey’s decision not to award Kotoko an infringement after the Isaac Amoako was fouled which enabled Olympics to score. “We thought the referee would award us an infringement because it was a clear foul against our goalkeeper. However, he allowed our opponents to score. Afterwards, all out attention was shifted on him because he was frustrating us” he lamented.
The second goal though it was not from a foul position this time round was similar to the previous one. Isaac Amoako, instead of grabbing the ball decided to punch it and Olympics Tanko Mohammed who standing close by unmarked, headed in for the second goal.
It was a match played in virtually an empty stadium though the atmosphere was conducive for soccer. Reports indicated that most of the fans were misinformed prior to the game that the game was scheduled to commence at 4:00 pm instead of the usual kick off time at 3:00 pm.
However, some of the few Kotoko supporters who made it to the stadium dressed in black to indicate that they were mourning with Coach Bashir Hayford whose wife passed away last Sunday.
Kotoko players who were also in a pensive mood during the warm up exercise stormed the stadium with black arm bands on their. With Kwadwo Poku leading the attack, they made the first incursion in the first minute but lost concentration few seconds later which allowed Olympic to punish them and score the match opener in the second minute.
From there the players organized themselves well because it became evident that Olympics were in not only to cause havoc but also to avenge their previous defeat and redeem their image in the competition.
The midfield comprising Nii Adjei, Jordan Opoku and Mark Sekyere wasted no time in dispensing the ball upfront immediately they got the ball but Kwadwo Poku and Osei-Kuffour were heavily policed by the Olympics defence.
Kotoko however had a glorious chance in the 12th minute to equalize but the “General” himself could not utilize the one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Ben Mensah.
The game from this end became a ding dong affair. Kotoko kept pilling the pressure to score but all their efforts were thwarted especially in the 41st minute when a Francis Coffie header from a perfect cross delivered by Jordan Opoku went over the post.
That was after Tanko Mohammed had scored the second goal for Olympics. Prince Anokye and George Asare left him unmarked and allowed him to nod home a free header after Isaac Amoako punched the ball straight at him.
This compelled Coach Johnson Smith to bring on Nana Arhin Duah for Osei Kuffour who had a bad day.
After recess, the Olympics coach who was satisfied with the result so far decided to play a defensive game bringing in Samuel Sowade for Iddrissu Somaila to tighten their defence.
Both Coaches made more substitutions. Stephen Oduro came on for Francis Coffie in the 17th minute in the second half whiles Ofosu Amoah also replaced Nii Adjei.
The inclusion of these players injected pace into Kotoko’s game but they couldn’t deliver what was needed, goals.
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