The Porcupine Warriors newly found deadly striker netted his eighteenth goal of the season last weekend as they edge closer to snatch the league title
A special report by AshesGyamera.com’s Editor Evans Gyamera-Antwi on Kotoko’s Mbella Etouga
Little was known about him before his arrival in Kumasi; that is, if you compare him to his countryman George Mfegue Rodrigues and it was all because the latter had been on the wishlist of Asante Kotoko after COVID-19 pandemic. However, the talks to bring him down in 2020 fell through in the eleventh hour.
Nana Yaw Amponsah was gutted, shuttered and left in pains, especially when the club he took over as the new chief executive officer, after losing the Ghana FA presidential elections in 2019, also threw away a seven-point lead in the league because goals were not coming. And, interestingly, Hearts of Oak, their bitterest rivals, snatched the trophy right under their noses.
This time, Kotoko were bent on offloading ‘dead woods’ and a new era began under the auspices of new coach Dr. Prosper Ogum Narteh. He took over from Portuguese Mariano Baretto.
Mfegue was finally signed and Kotoko supporters were told that their striking problems have been solved. The Cameroonian landed in Kotoko’s camp in Dubai during their pre-season tour not only with his bags and big smiles, but also with another young chap who was highly tipped by Cameroonian journalists and coaches as a goal monger in future. His name was Frank Thierry Mbella Etouga.
Today, it is Etouga’s name which is on the lips of almost every Ghanaian football lover for various reasons although, Mfegue has also had a decent season – six goals and a couple of assists.
Etouga began his impressive goal scoring run with a debut finish against Real Tamale United in a 1-1 stalemate on December 15, 2021 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. He combined with his countryman Mfegue to send in a sublime finish with his right foot. And, oh, nobody has been able to stop him, thereafter.
Now, the 20-year-old boasts of 18 goals after 22 games; an incredible feat for a newcomer who is also facing a language barrier, as he’s only fluent in French and plays in an English dominated country. Yet, his statistics are simply staggering in his maiden season.
Etouga has faced almost all the club’s participating in the Premier League this season but he has been able to score against ten of them with seven games remaining.
Fortunately for him, that number could increase before the season ends in June as he will have the chance to face some of the clubs he failed to score against in the first round once more.
Out of the 18 goals scored so far, Etouga has netted 15 of his goals for Kotoko with his right foot, one with his head (against Ashanti Gold) and two with his left foot (against Accra Lions and Dreams FC)
Out of the 14 goals scored with his favourite right foot, half of them were from the penalty spot; where he brilliantly sent the goalkeepers to the wrong directions.
The goal monger has scored against RTU both home and away. Also, he scored a brace against Legon Cities, Great Olympics and Dreams FC. He also netted hat-trick against Ashanti Gold and Accra Lions as well as boasting of a goal each against Gold Stars, Karela United, Hearts of Oak and WAFA.
Whose record has he equalled?
Etouga’s goal against Real Tamale United at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale tied him on the same number of goals (17) with Kotoko former striker Eric Kwabena Bekoe. The former Porcupine Warriors’ favourite goal getter scored 17 goals to emerge as the topscorer of 2007/2008 season.
A lot of strikers have donned the Kotoko jersey but it was Etouga who matched Bekoe’s goalscoring record on his first season at the club.
What record has Etouga set?
After being tied with Bekoe on the same number of goals, Etouga became the first Kotoko striker since the start of the new era of Ghana Premier League in 1993 to score 18 goals. The Cameroonian achieved that feat with a wonderful solo effort against WAFA at the RedBull Arena in Sogakope last weekend.
Interestingly, it was Kotoko’s first-ever victory against the Academy Boys at the venue where they had always ended up as losers and their best being a stalemate.
Bekoe posted on Facebook shortly after Etouga broke his record, to congratulate and even made time to meet him for the first time when Kotoko arrived in Accra enroute to Kumasi.
Etouga has now scored more goals in a single season than some revered strikers who once donned the Kotoko jerseys including Alex Asamoah, Thomas Boakye, Seidu Bancey and Yahaya Mohammed.
Asamoah scored 16 goals in the 2008/2009 season while Boakye and Bancey scored 12 goals in the 1990/1991 season and 2013/14 season respectively.
What record must Etouga now break?
With seven matches remaining to end the season, Etouga is still ranked third on Kotoko’s all-time topscorer chart in Premier League behind Opoku Afriyie who occupies first and second positions. Afriyie scored 21 league goals during the 1981 season and also netted 26 times in the 1979 season with the latter making him the all-time topscorer in a single season.
Also, the youngster is ranked fifth in the Premier League’s all-time topscorers’ chart behind Kotoko legend Opoku Afriyie who occupies first and third positions, Hearts of Oak’s Ishmael Addo (22 goals in 2001) and former New Edubiase United superstar Emmanuel Baffour (21 goals in 2012)
Who are the next opponents for Kotoko and Etouga?
Interestingly, Kotoko and Etouga face tough opponents – Aduana Stars and Ashanti Gold – in their next two games as they are all derbies.
When totemic clubs Kotoko and Aduana Stars lock horns either at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi or Nana Agyemang Badu I Park in Dormaa Ahenkro, it is one of the most eagerly anticipated football derbies in Ghana and Etouga must embrace himself for a tough afternoon.
Obviously, that game is more than just a football match which is expected to be played only for 90 minutes. A lot is at stake, honestly. It is a clash of cultures; involving Asante and Bono. Again, a reunion also at a point. Many Aduana players including goalkeeper Robert Addo, midfielders Emmanuel Gyamfi and Sam Adams, forward Yahaya Mohammed among others, have previously had stints with Kotoko. They will be visiting their former favourite ground and play in front of a vociferous supporters who once helped them to make names
After that fixture, Kotoko will make a short trip from Kumasi to Obuasi for another crucial encounter against Ashanti Gold. That will present football lovers the chance to watch Etouga versus Yaw Annor as Ghana would tune in to decide who the supreme goalscoring ‘machine’ is, as the duo battle for the goal king diadem.
Etouga leads Annor only two goals after the latter made headlines last weekend by scoring a haul (four goals) in a 5-1 drubbing of Berekum Chelsea to close in on the goal scoring chart.
Even if Etouga eventually succumbs the lead he has taken in the goal king race to Annor, the Cameroonian will forever be in the hearts of Kotoko fans and his name will be on their lips for years to come.
How Etouga has scored his 18 goals for Asante Kotoko;
Kotoko vs RTU – right leg
Legon vs Kotoko – right leg [2x])
Kotoko vs Ashanti Gold (Right leg [2x]), header)
Kotoko vs Great Olympics – right leg (2x)
Kotoko vs Accra Lions – right leg (2x), left leg
Kotoko vs Dreams – right leg, left leg
Kotoko vs Gold Stars – right leg
Kotoko vs Karela United – right leg
Kotoko vs Hearts – right leg
RTU vs Kotoko – right leg
WAFA vs Kotoko – right leg
