Asante Kotoko has
plunged into serious training for this weekend’s MTN FA Cup
knockout tie at home to Accra based second
division side, Danbort FC.
The training
sessions are expected to continue throughout the week to get the
team into the right shape for the game expected to be full of
thrills.
The MTN FA Cup
which has made a return on the football calendar after nearly a
decade’s absence was last won by Asante Kotoko.
Therefore the
motivation to prepare adequately for Sunday’s encounter is much
higher because as defending champions, Kotoko would have to come
out good and win.
Coach Bogdan
Korak and his technical assistants as well as the players are in
no mood to underrate their opponents who got to this stage by
trouncing Third World FC 3-0.
The patchy run by
the Porcupine Warriors in the 19-week old Glo Premier League
(which is currently on break) means that they have to work
extremely hard to not only book a Top 4 place when the league
resumes in March, but also win the FA Cup title.
It is not beyond
the strength of Kotoko to be champions in the MTN FA Cup
competition. However, as already observed it will take a little
more good performance to do that.
How well the
Porcupines will fare on Sunday against Danbort FC will provide a
better answer to whether or not a championship dream is
realistic.
It is good to
note that Danbort FC will not be mince meat. According to the
Communications Director of Danbort FC, John Vigah, they have a
lot of respect for Kumasi Asante Kotoko and have thus advised
their players not to feel under any pressure ahead of the game.
John Vigah argued
that it would not make any news when Kotoko beats his team on
Sunday explaining that it would rather make big news should his
side cause an upset at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
He added that
their players averagely are aged between 17-23 years and alluded
to the fact that they would have the energy and strength to
battle Kotoko effectively.
Given the
situation where so-called smaller clubs overpower especially
Premier clubs in FA Cup competitions all over the world, the
Communications Director of Danbort FC advised Kotoko not to come
into the game complacent.
“Kotoko should
not underestimate us. We respect Kotoko. We know Kotoko is a
great side” said John Vigah who also disclosed to that Danbort
FC has been in the system for 13 years now starting initially as
an under-12 team.
Jim Corblah, a
former assistant coach of Heart of Lions, currently handles the
team.
