Fans charge technical team & players to buck up

By: Jerome Otchere

Date: 23-05-11

The performance of Kumasi Asante Kotoko in the Glo Premier League has surprisingly declined over the past few weeks consequently causing discomfort and anxiety for her supporters.

The shine that was seen in Kotoko’s performance from the beginning of the second round of the league is gradually fading with questions being asked as to what the causes of the decline are.

The plunge in the team’s performance started at Kpando where the Porcupines drew 2-2 against Heart of Lions a day after the first game was called off because of a heavy downpour at the time Kotoko was leading 2-1.

As happened in the aborted game, Kotoko went up again on the second day but easily surrendered their lead through a painful goalkeeping error.

The fight back to secure a win at Kpando proved unsuccessful. Kotoko was expected to make amends in their next match at home to Ashantigold – a game that came off after the two-week league break.

In front of a passionate home crowd, Kotoko again lost the plot; fell apart in midfield and allowed the miners to dominate, consequently rendering the game barren.

Then in Accra on Saturday afternoon against relegation threatened side, Mighty Jets, many had expected the fabulous lads to win and deepen the woes of Mighty Jets. However, a poor showing by Coach Bogdan Korak and his charges gave the Tudu based team a comfortable 2-0 win, leaving most Kotoko supporters at the stadium shocked.

Why the team played without purpose, creativity and sense of urgency was the question on the lips of many including management and board members of the club at the stadium. At the parking yard within the stadium, a visibly unhappy Executive Board Chairman, Dr. K. K. Sarpong along with management members – Kwame Baah-Nuakoh and Benjamin Nti; Board Members Alhaji Lamin, Jerry Asare and Wilberforce Mfum termed the outcome of the game as disappointing.

A group of agitated supporters behind the wire fence separating them and the team bus hurled insults on the players and called on them to wake up from their slumber.

In the match itself, a surprisingly lousy defence and a midfield that failed to gel coupled with an attack that created any decent essentially caused Kotoko’s downfall.

A 59th minute red card to Nii Adjei for a needless foul on an opponent did not help matters.

Mighty Jets who were much organised shot into the lead after 20 minutes through Jacob Kwao whose strike resulting from a free kick deflected off a Kotoko defender to beat goalkeeper Isaac Amoako.

When Kotoko restarted the game, it was as if they were to shed uninspiring performance. That was not to be. The only time Kotoko came so close to scoring was in the first half when Frank Boateng’s 30-metre effort was beautifully parried to safety by goalie Frank Andoh.

Twenty-five minutes into the second half, the Kotoko trainer, Bogdan Korak, pulled out Prince Anokye on the left for Sabato Mohammed. Frank Boateng came on for Samed Oppong and Stephen Oduro replaced Albert Bruce. These changes no matter how well intended they were, could not change Kotoko’s game plan.

Kotoko’s misery was to be worsened. Their defence was caught pants down as a wrongly set offside trap exposed their weakness – putting through Abubarkar Sidi who superbly placed the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper, Isaac Amoako for the second goal.

The win by Mighty Jets as good as it is for them has done little to end their relegation woes whereas causing Kotoko’s drop from the second spot of the table to fourth place.

Kotoko line-up: Isaac Amoako, Yaw Frimpong, Prince Anokye/Sabato Mohammed, John Kuffour, Awal Mohammed, Michael Akuffu, Daniel Nii Adjei, Frank Boateng/Samed Oppong, Ahmed Toure, Nathaniel Asamoah, Stephen Oduro/Albert Bruce.