Former Asec
Mimosas striker, Nafiu Idrissu, believes Asante Kotoko has got
the character and materials to win this year’s MNT FA Cup.
After
surviving the scare and threat posed by Deportivo at the round
of 32, Nafiu is brimming with much confidence that the fabulous
boys can march all the way to the final and retain the cup.
“I know the
competition still has a long way to go. But if you look at the
materials Kotoko have and coupled with their current form, it
will be very difficult for any team to stop us” he noted.
Asante Kotoko last won the FA Cup in 2001 at
the expense of city rivals, King Faisal. Since the competition
bounced back this season, the team has fared well in the two
matches played so far. Kotoko first thrashed Nungua based
division two Danbort FC 3-0 in the round of 64 before sending
Deportivo packing with a hard fought3-2 victory last Wednesday
at the Baba Yara Stadium.
Indeed the Kotoko-Deportivo game was full of
fireworks but in the end the Porcupine spirit prevailed.
Striker Nafiu Iddrisu put Kotoko ahead on
two occasions but the highly determined Asokwa based division
one side came on level terms before Albert Bruce scored the all
important goal in the 87th minute to book a ticket
for the fabulous boys at the 1/16 stage.
Sharing his views on the MTN/FA cup
competition in an interview with Kotoko Express the enterprising
striker apart from acknowledging the good display of soccer by
opponents played against so far, he also lauded his colleagues
for their spirited performance that has seen Kotoko qualify to
the 1/16th stage.
He however
charged them to consider the stiff oppositions they went through
in the last two matches as a wakeup call that they needed to sit
up because all the participating teams in the FA Cup really are
serious.
“Deportivo gave us a hell of time but I was
extremely glad we eliminated them. But we need to be watchful at
this stage because it’s obvious every team is well prepared”
Nafiu has
also expressed happiness for rediscovering his scoring boots
once again. He is hoping to bang in more goals in subsequent
matches and help Kotoko make a great impact in both the FA Cup
and the Glo Premier League.
Having passed the Deportivo test, Kotoko
will next lock horns with Aduana Stars at the 1/16th
stage.
The game is
expected to produce a lot of thrills looking at the emerging
rivalry between the two sides, however, Nafiu is sure Kotoko
will repeat the dose on the Dormaa based team, having beaten
them 3-0 in the Glo Premier League at the Baba Yara Stadium in
Kumasi.
Nafiu Iddrisu joined Kotoko in the second
round after his stint with some teams outside the country like
Asec Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire, Aldehafra FC, Shargah FC and
Dibba FC all of Dubai.
Though he
has given good accounts of himself in the matches he has
featured so far, he is expecting an improved performance to
silence his critics who continue to doubt his competence.
“In fact I was finding it difficult to
adjust myself into the Kotoko system at the early stages. But
with time everything is moving on smoothly for me. I have
started scoring and I want to assure all critics that they will
soon see the Iddrisu Nafiu they used to know some years back” he
assured.
He
described Kotoko’s performance in the second round, especially
in their last league match against Hearts of Oak as a sign of
good things to come. To him, what matters most at the moment is
for the team to remain focused and keep the spirit among them.
He advises
supporters to remain united and come on board so that together
with the players they can take Kotoko to high places.
“The supporters have done tremendously well.
The kind of support we have received from them so far is
overwhelming. But this is where we need them most because the
battle ahead requires collective effort” he emphasized.
In his response to how he sees Kotoko’s
chances in the remaining eight league matches against King
Faisal, R.T.U, Berekum Arsenal, Heart of Lions, Ashgold, Mighty
Jets, Liberty and Medeama SC, Nafiu Iddrisu reiterated that it
was their plan to finish either first or within the first four
and that means they have to win all the remaining matches.
He
reaffirmed his hope to play for the senior national team, Black
Stars adding that he would work hard to make it a possibility.
