Tag: Solomon Sarfo Taylor

Etouga & Owusu return to training; Taylor, Oppong & others miss as Kotoko prepare to face Gold Stars

The Cameroonian striker sat out of Kotoko’s training on Thursday as the other players fine tuned but he made a return on Friday ahead of the game against the debutants on Sunday

Asante Kotoko players returned to full training on Friday afternoon after sharing the spoils goalless with Bechem United on matchday nineteen of Ghana Premier at Bechem on Tuesday.

Although, in-form striker Etuoga Mbella Etouga failed to participate in the training session on Thursday due to fatigue, the 20-year-old made a return to training on Friday to join his teammates in preparation for the game on Sunday as Kotoko look forward for their first win in March.

Etouga suffered a terrible attack by Bechem defender Samuel Osei Kuffour as he was stamped on the shoulder.

Although, the incident happened on the blind side of the referees, it was captured on television. As a result, Osei Kuffour has been charged by Ghana Football Association for misconduct and could face at least a three-game ban.

Watch Kotoko’s training session

Etouga currently lead the Ghana Premier League topscorer’s chart with 13 goals, one goal better than Aduana Stars striker Bright Agyei.

Also, youngster Isaac Oppong could not make it to the training due to injury concerns. Although, he recently returned from injury layoff and played against Hearts of Oak in the league, he is yet to play another game.

Again, Solomon Sarfo Taylor missed the training as the striker is currently in Spain. According to reports in the local media, Taylor is finalising his paperwork for an possible transfer to a lower division side in Europe.

Once again, Clinton Opoku was excused from the training due to ill health as he is yet to recover from an injury he sustained a couple of weeks ago.

However, midfielder Stephen Amankonah who has been recently in the news for the bad reasons was spotted at the training ground. Reports suggest Amankonah is looking for a way out of the club and has failed to make Kotoko’s matchday squad for their last three games.

Should his services be needed, the former Berekum Chelsea forward could called upon on Sunday.

Young left back Charles Owusu who picked up a head injury against Dreams FC a fortnight ago, as well as striker Andy Kumi, made a return to training but it is most likely they will not be named in the matchday squad.

Asante Kotoko lead Ghana Premier League log with 41 points after 19 games.

Razak Abalora and others arrive in Dubai to join Kotoko; check the five players yet to leave Ghana

The trio have safely touched down in the Gulf region to team up with their colleagues for the pre-season tour ahead of the start of 2021/22 campaign

Asante Kotoko deputy captain and goalkeeper Razak Abalora has safely touched down in Dubai to join his teammates for the pre-season tour.

The 26-year-old together with new signings Richmond Lamptey and Joseph Amoako who joined from Inter Allies and Young Red Bulls Academy respectively could not join the club’s first contingent that left the country on Thursday due to some issues of paperwork.

However, they left the Kotoka International airport on Friday and safely arrived in Dubai early hours of Saturday to join their teammates.

However, there are still five players left behind who are expected to also travel on Saturday evening.

They include former Berekum Chelsea captain Stephen Amankonah who signed a three-year deal with the club few days ago. The club is expected to officially announce his acquisition before he joins his new teammates in Dubai.

The others include strikers Solomon Sarfo Taylor and Andy Kumi Francis as well as Samuel Boateng and Augustine Agyapong.

Kotoko are expected to spend two weeks in the Gulf region to fine tune before they return for the commencement of 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season.

Their first game of the season will be an away trip to Dawu where they will lock horns with Dreams FC before they host Bechem United at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium a week later.

The game against Bechem will be Kotoko’s first ever game at the venue for almost two years since the facility was closed down temporarily for renovations and was only opened a fortnight ago by the minister of Youth and Sports Ussif Mustapha.

VIDEO: Watch the highlights of Asante Kotoko target Steven Mukwala; the striker they may break bank to sign

The Porcupine Warriors may sign the Ugandan striker to beef up their attacking options before the new season commences in October

Asante Kotoko have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) FC striker Steven Mukwala ahead of the start of 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season, AshesGyamera.com can reveal.

The 22-year-old was close to signing for Kotoko last season during Nana Yaw Amponsah’s first year in office but things didn’t go as planned and he joined URA FC from Vipers FC. However, with Kotoko going trophyless last season and pressure mounting on the club’s top hierarchy to win Ghana Premier League, they could break the bank and sign him.

With the departure of forwards Augustine Okrah and Naby Keita, Kotoko are keen to bolster their attacking options since they currently have only Evans Adomako, Solomon Sarfo Taylor, Osman Ibrahim and Andy Kumi.

These strikers could not even score a combined twenty goals among them last season in all competitions which has raised several questions about their potency in the upcoming season.

Close sources to new coach Prosper Ogum Narteh have revealed that he is ready to work with Mukwala and has given the club the green light to begin negotiations with the player’s counsel.

Reports are wild in the local media that Mukwala will arrive in the country in the coming days to finalise negotiations and then put pen to paper with the Kumasi-based club should he pass the medical.

Mukwala, who was part of the Uganda national team squad that shared the spoils goalless against Guinea in the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers, is a proven goalscorer. He banged in 13 goals after 22 games in the 2019/20 season to win the Ugandan Premier League topscorer award when on loan at Maroons FC.

Last season, he scored 14 goals after 24 matches for Uganda Rivers Authority (URA FC).

Kotoko will begin their 2021/22 season with a trip to Dawu to face Dreams FC at the Theater of Dreams before they host Bechem United at home the following weekend.

Their biggest test will be the away fixture in the Super Clash against Hearts of Oak on matchday seven at Accra Sports Stadium.

The return leg of the Super Clash has scheduled for matchday 24 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium and it will be the first in almost two years since the venue was closed down in 2020 for renovations.