The Porcupine Warriors newly found goal poacher has had series of fine performances but he faced stiffer competitions in the month of March
Despite the controversies and criticisms Ghana Premier League Player of the Month generates, one would admit that it still remains a key award in football, as it goes a long way to enhance players’ value during and after the season.
It also helps a player to eventually emerge as the overall Best Player in the top-flight after the season and the race to clinch the 2022 edition is well and truly on with seven games more.
One should know that the Player of the Month prize should reflect the best footballer who helped his side in diverse ways and stood out rather than the one who only scored goals.
A lot of people are arguing that Kotoko’s Mbella Etouga deserves Ghana Premier League Player of the Month of March following his nominations earlier this week.
The Cameroonian striker has been selected alongside Karela United’s Kelvin Andoh and Bechem United prodigy Emmanuel Annor.
Per the statistics available, Etouga doesn’t come near his competitors. Aside goals and assists, Man of the Match accolades go a long way to separate players since it also defines one’s progress as a footballer.
Mbella Etouga scored two goals in the month under review and his goals, if critically looked into, fetched Kotoko just a point.
He was on target when Kotoko annihilated Gold Stars 5-0 in Kumasi. Before Etouga scored his penalty, Kotoko were leading 3-0. Despite even assisting Mfegue for the second goal and Samuel Boateng for the last goal, he wasn’t adjudged as the Man of the Match because other players excelled ahead of him.
Etouga then scored in the 1-1 stalemate against Karela United. Here, clearly, he won a point for Kotoko especially when his goal came from a losing position because Kotoko were down before he fetched the equaliser.
Against Eleven Wonders in Techiman and Bechem United in Bechem, the Cameroonian couldn’t live up to the expectations.
In the month of March, Kelvin Andoh scored a brace to help Karela United defeat Ashanti Gold 2-1 at the CAM Park in Ainyinase.
His two goals on that day won three points for Karela and he went on to win Man of the Match.
Although, Kelvin couldn’t score against Berekum Chelsea and Medeama in the subsequent games, he snatched a vital away goal in the last game of the month against Kotoko to win Karela one point. Remember that it was Kelvin’s goal which Etouga later equalised for Kotoko.
Lastly, in the same month of March, Emmanuel Annor of Bechem United fame scored the opening goal for the Ahafo giants when they defeated Elmina Sharks 3-2 away in Elmina.
The 20-year-old also scored the only goal when Bechem United pipped Accra Lions 1-0 at home and he went on to win the Man of the Match after a stellar performance.
However, he could not find the back of the net against Asante Kotoko and Dreams FC despite his incredible outings in those games.
The race, therefore, is between Annor and Andoh. It will be a huge surprise if Etouga snatches this award from the aforementioned names.