Soccer- Kotoko must make amends to avoid chaos
Accra (Greater Accra) 18 March 2000
Kumasi Asante Kotoko recorded their heaviest defeat in 31 years when they lost 0-4 to their arch rivals Accra Hearts of Oak last Wednesday at the Accra Sports Stadium. The last time Kotoko were hammered in such a manner was in 1969 when Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs gave them a bitter welcome from a training tour in Europe with a 5-0 thrashing.
But last Wednesday's defeat came as a great shock to the Kumapim fans who have tagged their team "league champions elect" on the basis of haven won three trophies within 12 days, in pre-season warm-up matches.
It was an incredible scoreline, hard for anybody to believe, because Kotoko has assembled one of the very best cream of players in the country and against the background that the same side beat Hearts by a lone goal a fortnight earlier to lift the J.O.T Agyemang Memorial Cup.
hat stunning loss, coupled with a first week ABC premier surprise defeat by boggy team Tema Ghapoha Readers at the Kumasi Sports Stadium, is enough warning to the Kotoko technical handlers to sit-up and justify their multi-million cedis recruitment as they welcome Power F/C at the Kumasi Stadium on Sunday. It is a match Kotoko must win at all costs to calm the nerves of their vociferous fans who may not spare the players even if they draw. Power, who got promoted to the elite division just last season have drawn their two matches against Dawu Youngsters and Real Tamale United ,while Kotoko are stuck at the bottom of the 16-team league table with no point.
With the inclusion of Michael Osei and defender Isaac Owusu, who were hit by severe malaria before their clash with Hearts, Kotoko stand a better chance of carrying the day.
Real Tamale United who have one point after losing to Hearts in their opening match at Tamale, host Obuasi Goldfields in the top-most liner at the Kaladan park.
Goldfields have annexed the six maximum points from their two matches and would try to force a draw to keep their hopes alive.
In the other matches, Dwarfs trek to Sekondi as guest of Hasaacas, Ghapoha clash with Bofoakwa at the Sunyani Coronation park while Dawu and King Faisal meet at the Dawu Sports Stadium.
Liberty Professional welcome Okwawu United at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, to be preceded by a match between Ghana's Academicals and their Nigerian counterparts.
The matches between Kawebibirem and Hearts and Olympics-B.A. United have been postponed indefinitely because of their continental assignments.
Olympics are in Libya to play their first-leg match of the Cup Winners Cup competition while Hearts welcome Horoya club of Guinea at the Accra Sports Stadium this Sunday, in the preliminary round of the Champions' League.
GRi../