Tactical Smith upbeat about qualification

Story: Jerry Afriyie-Paemka, Tripoli, Libya.

Assistant Coach Johnson Smith who was in charge of Asante Kotoko in last Friday’s epic first leg Confederations Cup match against Al Ittihad of Libya believes although he had wanted a much better result from the first leg other than the 2-1 loss, he is still confident that he will finish the job in style in the second leg encounter at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi to secure qualification to the group stage of the competition.

In a post match interview with the Kotoko Express, John Smith who was radically tactical against a side reputed for their tactical play told yours truly “here, we were a bit defensive because the Libyans are dangerous at home but in the return leg in Kumasi, we will open full fire, a kind of all attacking all defensive game”.

But what did Coach Smith know about Al Ittihad before the game?

“Because they have several of their players in the Libyan national team, I watched and studied the Black Stars game against Libya in Kumasi critically and made some observations.  Again my investigations also revealed that they like to finish-off in the air. I also knew that they have some foreign players with quick feet and dangerous foot works so I had to plan my strategy to neutralise them”.  Smith stated.

Coach Smith’s strategy at a point in the game completely paralysed the home side who did not know what had hit them. They only clawed back into the game after Kenyan Referee Alfred Ndanya handed the Libyans a numerical advantage by controversially sending off skipper Osei-Kuffour in a move that could be described as a disgrace to the noble profession of refereeing.

So what was Johnson Smith’s game plan going into last Friday’s big game?

“As a result of their aerial superiority, I recalled Godfred Yeboah from Wa All Stars and together with George Asare and goalkeeper Soulama, I fortified the defence against all attacks from the air because with Soulama in goal, Godfred pairing Anokye in defence and Asare playing in front of the defence, there was no way the Libyans were going to have an easy pay-day”.

“However we had a problem when Soulama got injured and Nii Baah his replacement had not really warmed up to the kind of game the Libyans were playing and the North Africans managed to breach ‘security’ to score the match winner via an aerial ball which was nodded home by Younes Shabaqni”.

The affable Kotoko Assistant Coach deputizing for the bereaved Coach Bashir Hayford was however glad that Kotoko succeeded in securing a vital away goal which was part of their strategy but regretted the sending off of skipper Osei-Kuffour.

“It is painful that we will miss Osei-Kuffour in the second leg match in Kumasi because he inspires the boys but with the help of God, we will succeed”. Said Johnson Smith.

Johnson Smith however revealed that it is the ambition of the Kotoko technical bench to win a domestic league and African Cup double.

“It is first important to qualify for the group stage which will guarantee some high level football entertainment for Kumasi fans for the rest of the year. After achieving this objective, we will now focus on winning the Cup”.