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| Kotoko To Halt Poor Run Sunday |
1/13/2007 |
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The Chief Executive of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Sylvester Asare Owusu, and his management are under severe pressure to turn around the fortunes of the team in the next few days to put the smiles back on the faces of their massive followers after three consecutive league defeats.
After watching the club lose 0-1 to unsung Tema Youth in a crucial Onetouch Premier League match at Tema last Wednesday, the unassuming Kotoko CEO engaged in consultation with some of his management staff on the field on the way forward, while the players, with morose faces, wondered what might have hit them.
While officials and players were in a wonderland looking for the way forward, some angry fans were also lurking around, seeking for the least opportunity to pounce on them for the poor showing.
Thus, there was drama, Hollywood style, when peace officers moved in desperately to foil a planned assault on the players immediately afterwards.
For about half an hour, players and officials of Kotoko were in danger as their disgruntled supporters held them hostage on the pitch, swearing to take their pound of flesh from them for losing for the third time in three weeks.
As if rehearsed, the angry fans hardly dispersed after the game for a long time, while their visibly frightened victims were confined in the inner perimeter pondering over what might have gone amiss.
It was when they remained hemmed in by their otherwise friendly supporters with no way of escape that the security men on duty finally decided to go to their rescue.
With a well-rehearsed strategy, the peace officers managed to escort players and officials including management members, Sylvester Asare Owusu and George Amoako, out of the stadium amidst missile-throwing and raining of insults from the fans.
That is the gloomy situation in which the Porcupine Warriors find themselves as they struggle to make amends against stubborn Liberty Professionals at their newly-adopted Cape Coast base.
Having resolved to die a little more for the club after three straight losses, skipper Edmund Owusu Ansah and his teammates are expected to halt the unusual trend which saw them surrendering their lead to Hearts of Oak last Sunday.
However, victory cannot be chalked on a silver platter as they play a side which held Hearts to a goalless draw last Wednesday.
After leading Tema Youth to last Wednesday’s giant-killing feat, Coach John Eshun sounded a warning to Coach David Duncan’s Ashantigold to expect a real battle at the Len Clay Stadium on Sunday.
In a post-match interview, Coach Eshun described Coach Duncan as his “small boy” whom he handled as a player in Great Olympics and therefore had no chance of beating his side on Sunday.
How the young promising Duncan will respond to that challenge will make the game quite interesting.
Hearts, now three points richer than closest assailants Kotoko, can be guaranteed another victory in their home game against struggling Power FC at Tema tomorrow though that will not come easy.
When Great Olympics return to the Tema Stadium again on Sunday after falling to Tema Youth barely a week ago, they will do so with an agenda to make amends against a formidable Real Sportive side who will not be in any mood to compromise.
At Sunyani, King Faisal will seek to avenge a 1-0 first round defeat suffered at the hands of Hasaacas, while Gamba All Blacks will hope to capitalise on territorial advantage to beat visiting RTU at Swedru.
Berekum Arsenal will also have a fine opportunity to settle a first round score against Bofoakwa in a local derby at the Golden City Park, while Heart of Lions who are strong at home look set to register their seventh home win in nine matches when they play host to Feyenoord Academy at Kpando.
Story by Samuel Ebo Kwaitoo
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