By: Jerome Otchere

Date: 30-05-11

Kotoko’s FA and International Relations Manager, Kwame Baah-Nuakoh, has explained that the club committed no offence in fielding Daniel Nii Adjei in last Sunday’s 29th week, Glo Premier League match against Liberty Professionals at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

According to Kwame, the player was eligible for the match in which the fabulous lads lost 2-3 despite taking the lead on two occasions.

“He had a red card in our game against Mighty Jets in Accra but that did not make him unqualified for the Liberty match. He served a two-match suspension which included the game in which he was sent off and the MTN FA Cup tie against Heart of Lions,” he explained.

“There are three categories of red cards” he stated. “The first is the two yellow cards – which leads to expulsion. With that the player misses two matches including the one in which he was expelled”.

“Then we have the second one which is the straight red card. Under that, we have two types – the punishment even depends on the offence. For instance we have misconduct or a serious foul; then we have the violent conduct, which is an automatic four-match ban including the one in which the player was sent off” said Kwame.

The FA and International Relations Manager, further stated that in the case of Daniel Nii Adjei, his offence was a serious foul and for which reason he was to miss two matches including the one in which he was shown the exit. Kwame disclosed that Kotoko also paid a GH¢125 fine for the player’s red card, therefore clearing him of any ineligibility particularly when he had already served his two match ban which were the Mighty Jets and Heart of Lions matches.

There were uneasiness and heated arguments before, during and after the Kotoko-Liberty league encounter, over the eligibility of Nii Adjei who was shown a straight red card in the week 27th week league fixture away to Might Jest at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium.

The expectation of most supporters was that he would be ineligible for three matches with the Jets duel inclusive, thereby making him unqualified for last Sunday’s game.

Thus Nii Adjei presence raised a lot of questions even after Kotoko had lost the three maximum points disappointingly.

Ahmed Toure put the Porcupines ahead 12 minutes into the game when he nicely headed home a long ball from Yaw Frimpong. Toure’s effort was made very easy by Liberty goalkeeper, Daniel Agyei who mistakenly moved off his line before Toure powerfully headed the ball into the net.

Liberty Professionals were not daunted by the goal. They fought courageously to cancel the deficit in the 32nd minute through Latif Salifu who capitalised on a defensive error by centre back, Ofosu Appiah, who fared well in defence on the afternoon.

His partnership with Awal Mohammed was not bad but many had thought that Ofosu Appiah and Ohene Brenya would have started considering their fine game in the MTN FA Cup duel against Heart of Lions.

Liberty sustained their pressure on Kotoko after drawing level. Kotoko managed to contain them and went ahead again, this time through Nathaniel Asamoah.

Frank Boateng put the striker through from midfield and Nathaniel raced beautifully with the ball before sending a decent grounder that went through arms of the diving goalkeeper Daniel Adjei in the 37th minute.

With good moves from defence to attack, Kotoko kept their momentum. They nearly grabbed the third goal a minute before the break.

However, Nii Adjei blasted wide in front of a yawning net. A minute into the second half, Kotoko again missed another scoring chance as Ahmed Toure excellently located Nathaniel Asamoah in the box but the final delivery from the latter agonisingly struck the right post.

High performing Yaw Frimpong bowed out of the game after 49 minutes due to ill-health. Nathaniel Asamoah could also not finish because of injury. The duo’s unexpected exit affected the team.

Kotoko’s performance turned poor from the 50th minute, allowing Liberty to grab their second equaliser through a marvelous free kick taken by Alfred Nelson in the 53rd minute. The absence of Michael Akuffu was deeply felt because Albert Bruce struggled to fit well into Akuffu’s shoes.

Nii Adjei moved to right side of defence to fill Yaw Frimpong’s vacuum. Edward Afum thus came on to play on the right. Frank Boateng was also replaced by Nafiu Iddrisu with Stephen Oduro taking the place of Nathaniel Asamoah.

These substitutions as well-intended as they might have been did little to turn the game in Kotoko’s favour.

Liberty had their efforts perfectly rewarded in the 88th minute when a quick and spicy Yusif Ayoma cross deep into Kotoko’s goal area was brilliantly fired home by Michael Helegbe to seal their 3-2 win. This result put Kotoko out of the top 4 bracket with only a match to end the season.

Kotoko are 5th placed with 43 points and must beat Medeama FC next Sunday to dream of a top ranking.

Kotoko line-up: Isaac Amoako, Yaw Frimpong/Edward Afum, Sabato Mohammed, Ofosu Appiah, Awal Mohammed, Albert Bruce, Daniel Nii Adjei, Frank Boateng/Nafiu, Ahmed Toure, Nathaniel Asamoah, Samed Oppong.

Liberty line-up: Daniel Agyei, Yusif Ayoma, Richard Antwi, Kingsley Nteng, Alfred Nelson, James Kortey/Gaymfi Daniel, Yakubu Issah, Donkor Isaac, Latif Salifu, Zakari Morou, Michael Helgbe.