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Kotoko’s chances are still bright – Coach Bash
3rd Sept 2008
Notwithstanding Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s bottom position in Group B of the Confederation Cup competition, Coach Bashir Hayford says the chances of the club are still bright.
The coach has Kotoko Express that Kotoko’s opponents might have taken an early lead on the table but that, as he argues, was no automatic route to the finals contending that as long as there were four matches to be played, the Porcupine Warriors could not be underestimated.
“Whoever thinks we are not in contention is deceiving himself because the competition is not over. We play our next match at home against JSK. We will work hard for victory and get favourable results in the remaining matches outside”.
“Our last match is also at home and as we always say, in football, it is not over until it is finally over” said the coach.
He however deplored the rate at which his attackers squandered chances against El-Merriekh.
“We created all the chances. The finishing was the problem. We played well. We dominated play and if the finishing had been right, we would have wrapped victory early in the first half”.
Answering a question on what might have created Kotoko’s inability to utilise its chances, Coach Bashir Hayford said there was intense pressure on the players and that the players’ inability to handle this pressure robbed them of a massive win.
With Algeria’s JSK beating Etoile Sportive du Sahel 1-0 at home on Friday, each of the four clubs in Group B has three points after the second round of matches. Kotoko hosts JSK on Sunday, September 14 in Kumasi whereas Merriekh treks to Tunisia to play as guests of Etoile Sportive du Sahel that same weekend.
These matches, Bashir Hayford predicted, would bring out the best team in Group B.
Coach Bashir Hayford has indicated that he would work on the psyche of the team before they go into the next match against JSK.
“We played under pressure. What we have to do is to teach the players how to be calm. Before we play the Algerians, we would have done that work. I appeal to our supporters not be worried” he stated.
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