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Former RTU duo delights on debut
By David Kyei
Exactly one month after appending their signatures to a contract document that bound them for three years each to Champion club, Asante Kotoko F/C, the duo from RTU, Hanan Giwah and Yahaya Abdul-Gaani, have finally made their debut appearance for the porcupine warriors.
It was a matter of missed emotions for the players as they went into the match with a determination to make a break into the first team of the team that has been assembled for the GHALCA/GLO Top 4 competition.
First, it was an issue of them finally realising their dreams of donning the famous and well-sought after red jersey of the fantabulous club and secondly, they were performing on a bigger stage and in front of a group of vociferous supporters who could be seen as a barometer of once performance. They cheer you on when you delight them with your performance and can also do other things in terms of information dissemination for players to note that they did not impress.
Whatever the feeling and emotion was, the duo had no choice but to perform to achieve the most important thing that any debutant at Kotoko needed to have, the confidence of the fans.
Probably briefed to achieve this, they did not disappoint as they played so well and beautifully to the delight of the fans that, but for the outstanding performance of Stephen Oduro that eventually won him the trophy of the MVP, one of them would not have been jeered at as a wrong choice if any of then were selected.
Speaking to Kotoko Express after the match, the two were delighted at their debut for the club and shared their respective opinions.
According to Hanan Giwah, playing his debut for Kotoko was not an event that overwhelmed him because he had gotten over any form of fear and anxiety.
“Rather, I decided to go out there and enjoy my self by doing my best for the club and her supporters”
Being a debut and especially in a match that was to be played at the Baba Yara Stadium, one would expect that tension and nervousness that usually characterised such occasions.
“Rather the opposite, I floated on the home support to churn out the performance I have started with. Unlike in other situations where the fans were against me as an opponent, they this time gave me all their support and so it became easier for me to quickly get used to them, move on with my plans for the team,” was his reaction to a question weather he felt a bit nervous on that day.
“I thank the fans who made it to Baba Yara Stadium because it was their support that gave me the courage to stand up to be counted in the match. I want them to continue with that because to most of us, their support is the reason for our performance”.
On his part, the man whose moves almost always attracted cheers from the fans, Gaani, was spot on when he attributed every talent of his to God Almighty and so was quick to say a big thank you to him.
Commenting on his performance, Gaani says it was not his al time best and that he will get better match after match.
“I am satisfied with my performance over lions, but not to sound like I was blowing my own horn, I would say that my best is yet to come”
“Allow me to use this opportunity to thank the senior players in the team who gave and continue to give pieces of at vice before and during the match. I thank them match and would like to have them guide me through out my stay in Kotoko. They really made me feel at ease”.
Having made the first appearance, the duo separately says they are moving forward in their quest at getting a secured first team place in the team
“Whilst fighting for a permanent place in the team, I also do have my eyes fixed on making the African team. That is one of my targets in Kotoko,” Giwah concluded.
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