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 Complacency caused JSK’s late goal
By: Jerome Otchere, Kumasi
Complacency and total lack of concentration combined effectively to rob Kotoko of what would have been an impressive 3-0 triumph over their Algerian opponents, Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie also known as JSK.
Kotoko put three goals behind the net of JSK before the 75th minute. And in a competition where a single goal can prove so decisive, the expectation was that the team would stoutly defended the 3-0 score line.
A momentary loss of concentration during time-added-on however saw JSK scoring to end the match 3-1. Spectators at the stadium greeted that result with mixed feelings.
Majority of them slammed the players for allowing JSK’s to score in the 92nd minute through Tayeb Marcoci. Two beautiful goals by Eric Bekoe in the 38th and 71st minutes and one clinical finish by Jordan Opoku nine minutes earlier had set the stadium agog.
Tayeb Marcoci’s goal however subdued the excitement at the stadium, consequently creating a huge anticlimax to what had been an afternoon of spectacular display of football artistry and joy. Kotoko Express’ post match interviews with Samuel Inkoom, Coach Bashir Hayford and chairman of the club, Sylvester Asare Owusu revealed that the team’s performance was satisfactory but its failure to defend to the last minute left a sour taste in the mouth of supporters who mainly put JSK’s late-minute goal to complacency and lack of concentration.
“I will not justify anything. Sometimes these things happen. We know how it feels to end a game this way. I will plead with the fans to forgive us” pleaded Inkoom.
“It is unfortunate. But we have to move on. We hope such a mistake won’t happen again” added Sylvester.
“The team was too relaxed. The players thought the game was over but this is football! As a coach, I was disappointed. What is written is written. We have to accept it” said Coach Bash.
Coach Bash, who predicted on Wednesday that his team would convert its chances after failing to get more goals against Sudanese side, El Merriekh despite creating many chances, pointed out that the team had been progressive on the day.
He said in the Etoile-Kotoko match, no chances were created but against Merreikh, the team created decent chances and won 1-0. That, Coach Bashir Hayford explained gave him the impression that the team could score more than two goals in the next match.
“I was not just predicting. We had worked on the team. We saw from the two matches that we needed to polish the boys in terms of finishing. They had got the chances right but not with the scoring. The boys needed to be calm. So we worked on them and from what I saw, I think they learnt their lessons” said the coach who declined interviews with other journalists apparently in of protest against unguarded remarks made by some radio sports presenters on his selection.
“I have nothing against journalists but when some make it look as if we do not know what we are doing, we feel bad. Players are selected based on performance and the strong conviction that they will perform. It is important people respect the selection we make” he stated.
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