Our worst performance was at Berekum – Amoako

By: Jerome Otchere, Kumasi

21-05-2010

In a post-season analysis of Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s performance, goalkeeper Isaac Amoako has disclosed that the team’s worst performance was at the Golden City Park at Berekum.

The goalie, who captained the Porcupines in almost all matches of the 2009/2010 season, says they had a nightmarish experience in their outing against Berekum Arsenal – the Gunners.

He says they were at a complete loss during and even after that match as they wondered what really went wrong that fateful afternoon at the Golden City Park. Berekum Arsenal chalked an emphatic 2-0 triumph over the fabulous lads in the match that many thought could see Asante Kotoko winning their third successive game under the tutelage of Coach Johnson Smith but that did not happen as two splendid strikes by Arsenal’s Abubakar Sadiqq cut short Kotoko’s lofty ambition.

Isaac Amoako was in post that afternoon and the goalkeeper admitted that Berekum Arsenal deserved that victory.

“Something went wrong with us that afternoon. We had a bad performance. Arsenal played better than we did. They won fairly,” he stated.

He also pointed out that their best performance was at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in the match against Great Olympics.

Kotoko hammered the Wonder Club 5-1 in their last game of the season.

“The goals came; the fans were not at the stadium in their numbers but it was really exciting. We played without much pressure. I think it was our best game”.

On to his general view of the team’s performance throughout the season, the goalie bluntly described it as unstable.

He added that their 5th position could not be termed as respectable. Amoako continued that the ups and downs of the team was not only disturbing to the teeming supporters but to the players as well.

He argued that the players were not at all enthused with the trend of events during the season. He said the feeling in camp was usually bad in view of the string of disappointing results that were recorded week after week.

He flatly dismissed remarks that the players deliberately played below par. According to him, such comments made them sad because as professionals they could not train on weekly basis only to underperform.

He said that was equal to stabbing management and supporters of the club besides endangering their career. Isaac Amoako also revealed that it was the desire of the players to see improvement but their wishes and desires could not materialise.

When asked to identify three key factors that led to the team’s disappointing show, he first mentioned late and inadequate preparation, the technical team’s inability to blend newly recruited players with the old players within a short time and in a fine diplomatic tone, Isaac Amoako added that management could also not deliver everything as they expected.

Isaac Amoako also admitted that the playing body was occasionally disappointing.

“We could not prepare adequately. We started quite late. The coaches also had a difficult time putting things together. The time was too short. We needed more trial matches; to play together and know ourselves especially when we had new players in our midst”.

Offering suggestions on what should be done next season to ensure a dignifying performance, the goalkeeper appealed to the leadership of the club to put in place a comprehensive pre-season program.

He says good organization ahead of the season, motivation of players and seriousness on the part of the playing body would lead to success.

Isaac Amoako added that massive support would also be needed. He used the opportunity to lament the situation where players are unfairly insulted and sometimes threatened by irate supporters when things do not go well.

He reiterated that the playing body never approach matches anyhow and would not do anything that would denigrate the name and image of the club knowing how lovely the supporters are when victories come.