The Porcupine Warriors played in front of their home fans for the first time in almost two years and it ended the way they anticipated
Asante Kotoko have moved to the summit of the Premier League log as they were made to work tirelessly before they could break down a resilient Bechem United by two late goals.
AshesGyamera.com’s Editor-in-chief, Evans Gyamera-Antwi highlights the five most valuable lessons that the victory came along with on Sunday.
Prosper Ogum Narteh is stubborn but expert in substitutions
The Kotoko gaffer has shown once again that he prefers Mudasiru Salifu as a holding midfielder to Richard Boadu ‘Agadas’ even though it keeps failing. His stubborness may cost him one day. In spite of this, he has had his substitutions during games spot on in the two games played so far. In the game against Dreams on opening day, Ogum’s tactical changes won the day for Kotoko and it was the same story on Sunday against Bechem.
With Kotoko struggling to break down the bulwark defence of Bechem, Ogum brought on Richard Boadu and Isaac Oppong for Stephen Amankonah and Joseph Amoako respectively. That decision changed the role of Fabio Gama and Richmond Lamptey and helped his side to exert more pressure on Bechem’s defence.
Very late in the game, Georges Mfegue Rodrigues and Samuel Boateng were introduced and the duo added bite to the attack which led to Oppong winning a penalty. Boateng then headed in another goal to seal the day after meeting a cross from Oppong.
Kotoko supporters missed their club in Kumasi
Per the performance Kotoko have displayed, it would not be a surprise if Kotoko maintain their top spot until new year since they have favourable games coming up but the atmosphere created by the supporters in their first game at Baba Yara Sports Stadium since March 2020 speaks a lot of things.
As early as 7am on Sunday, there were long queues at the various entrances to the stadium as supporters were waiting to be served tickets to enter and watch their beloved players and club. Out of the twenty players for the game on Sunday, only five had played at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium for Kotoko before and the remaining fifteen were waiting to make their bow.
Even when the going was tough for them, the supporters kept chanting and urging their players on to find an open and score a goal. It wasn’t surprising that their loud shout even pushed the referee to award them a penalty when Isaac Oppong was bundled down in Bechem’s penalty area.
The wild jubilations around the stadium and through the principal streets of Kumasi confirmed that football was indeed missed and Kotoko supporters have longed for months to watch live games after attending church, wedding, naming ceremonies and other social activities on Sundays.
Okrah exposes Yussif Mubarik & Ganiu is a lucky lad
Although, Kotoko won, they should be thankful that Bechem United were poor upfront. The visitors had numerous opportunities to win the day but fluffed them especially Emmanuel Avornyo. Augustine Okrah also beat the hell out of Yussif Mubarik.
The duo, who were teammates few months ago became sworn enemies on Sunday. However, it was Okrah who had the better side as he constantly exposed the weakness in Mubarik.
Also, Ganiu who partnered Mubarik was very luck not to have had an early shower. That career-threatening tackle on Avornyo would’ve been deemed a straight red card on any day but referee Gabriel Opoku Antwi favoured him.
Late goals carrying Kotoko
After two games, Kotoko have scored five goals and it will interest you to know that all of these goals came in the last five minutes of each game.
Against Dreams FC, Kotoko equalised on 86th minute through Mudasiru, before goals from Richmond Lamptey and Isaac Oppong wrapped up the win for them. Once again, they had to wait until 85th minute against Bechem United before Abdul Ganiu shot them in front through a penalty.
Samuel Boateng scored his debut goal for Kotoko and it was also deep in additional time.
Henceforth, any side that will face Kotoko will be aware that until the referee blasts his whistle to bring down the curtains in the game, it is not all over and they can be punished even in the last few seconds.
Doubters To Believers
At the start of the season, many people questioned Asante Kotoko’s decision to tour Dubai as they failed to win even one game against all the lower tier sides they faced. Beside, reports were that new coach Prosper Ogum Narteh was struggling to make out his final starting squad as too many new players arrived at the club.
A lot of pundits, rival fans and media suggested that Kotoko will struggle especially in the early embers of the season but after two games, they are cruising at the top. At this point, people have now started to revise their notes.
Doubters are gradually becoming believers as they see Kotoko as the real deal. Of course, they’ve got to believe as as Kotoko is prospering under Prosper Ogum.
With Kotoko heading to Bibiani next weekend to face league debutants Gold Stars, they’re expected not to drop points or at worse not to end in a defeat.