Kotoko Coach Bogdan Korak has praised the
performance of his second string side against Gomoa Feyenoord
Academy in last Sunday’s friendly match at the Baba Yara Sports
Stadium.
The coach said although he prefers
competitive matches to friendly games, the 1-1 result chalked
practically by the Kotoko second team is satisfactory.
According to him the match has given him a
deeper insight into the strength and form of his non-regular
players.
Coach Bogdan Korak started the game with
Soulama Abdoulaye, Yaw Frimpong, Louis Quainoo, Aziz Ansah, Umar
Gariba, Afranie Yeboah, Nii Adjei, Frank Boateng, Ahmed Toure
and Alex Asamoah but he altered the team significantly at the
beginning of the second half by introducing more of the
non-regular players namely Gershon Akuffo, Haruna Ganiyu and
Obeng Regan.
Prince Anokye, Nafiu Iddrisu, Stephen Oduro
and Samed Oppong who have been quite regular in the Serbian’s
scheme of things were also fielded.
Feyenoord with their exceptional passing
game were delightful to watch. Kotoko on the other hand matched
them well especially in the first half, which produced no goals.
Kotoko were first to score in the 66th
minute through Ahmed Toure whose strike from a free kick close
to the penalty box, completely beat the superb Feyenoord goalie,
Felix Annan.
The power behind the Ivorian’s delivery was
marvelous and what is more, he hit the target – the top right
corner of the net – with enviable precision, much to the
admiration of the sparsely seated spectators.
Before the free kick, he almost got his name
on the score sheet but his mighty goal bound shot was stopped by
a crawling Feyenoord defender first with his hand and later his
body.
That compelled the referee to award Kotoko
an infringement which he neatly converted.
Despite going down by the goal, the Academy
team attacked with purpose and caught Kotoko off balance on
several occasions. Luck never smiled at them though until the
79th minute when left winger, Emmanuel Oti rightly punished the
fabulous lads for lousy defending.
The youngster latched on a decent cross
inside the Kotoko goal area and decently placed the ball beyond
the reach of goalkeeper, Soulama Abdoulaye.
Emmanuel Oti’s elation could be understood
because not only did he score against all mighty Kumasi Asante
Kotoko on the evening, he as well secured the vital equaliser to
give his side a deserved facing saving draw.
Four minutes earlier, Kotoko had been
reduced to 10 men as left back, Gershon Akuffo, was sent off for
a second bookable offence.
Gershon, who came on at the start of the
second half to replace Louis Quainoo, hacked his marker
unfairly.
Kotoko’s numerical disadvantage however did
not show as the defence comprising Umar Gariba, Aziz Ansah and
Prince Anokye worked hard to contain the energetic and slippery
Feyenoord attack.
As the game cruised to an end, the Porcupine
Warriors pushed forward to secure what would have been the
winning goal but the visitors defended very well and even when
Ahmed Toure with great effort got a chance to shoot, his nail
driving salvo agonisingly hit the cross bar.
Kotoko line-up: Soulama
Abdoulaye, Yaw Frimpong, Louis Quainoo Gershon Akuffo, Aziz
Ansah, Umar Gariba Afranie Yeboah/ Haruna Ganiyu, Nii
Adjei/Obeng Regan, Frank Boateng/Stephen Oduro, Ahmed Toure,
Alex Asamoah/Nafiu Iddrisu, Fatawu Mohammed/Samed Oppong.
Feyenoord
line-up: Felix Annan, Daniel Osabutey,
Mahamadu Basit, Daniel Crenstil, Mohammed Basit, George Ofosu,
Quadrago Lukeman, Seth Osei, Ibrahim Adama, Daniel Boateng,
Emmanuel Oti. Subs:
Isaac Addai, Abubakar Suleman, Panyin Boakye, Boakye Kakra,
Michael Amaglo, Mohammed Ali.
