By: Jerome Otchere

Date: 08-07-11

Coach Bogdan Korak has told Kotoko Express that the MTN FA Cup final match between his side, Asante Kotoko and Nania FC scheduled to take place at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra on July 24 would pass as the biggest match to be played on the local football scene.

According to the Kotoko coach no other match on the local football calendar would surpass the FA Cup final because the two sides would exhibit fantastic performances in the match. The Kotoko coach said his team would not underrate Nania FC but would rather prepare well for the game, thrill football fans and eventually lift the magnificent trophy. Coach Bogdan Korak said this when speaking to this paper after leading Kotoko to beat All Stars 5-4 on penalties in Wednesday night’s semi final encounter.

Nania FC it would be recalled ousted league champions Berekum Chelsea in the first semi final clash a couple of weeks back and they have been patiently waiting for the Kotoko-All Stars fixture to be cleared to know their opponents in the grand finale slated for the capital. Coach Bogdan Korak said Kotoko would be in the best of shapes on the day of the match and would display fine football skill and power in Accra.

He recalled their last visit to Accra a week ago where they lost 6-7 on penalties to Berekum Chelsea in the President’s Cup match after a 2-2 result in regulation time. The coach said the defeat in that game left them with sad memories because they deserved to win, adding that the President Cup loss gingered his players to go all out in their FA Cup semi final game.

“I am happy we won” said Bogdan Korak. “We fought for it. It was difficult. All Stars are a good side but we were better. We could not score in normal time but it is good we are in the final. We promise our fans a good match in Accra and I believe it is going to be the match of the year” said the hard working 51-year-old Serbian trainer. Bogdan Korak also rued the absence of his top marksman, Ahmed Toure but was quick to disclose that he and Michael Akuffu would be available for the final match.

Kotoko could have avoided penalty kicks against All Stars on Wednesday night had they not squandered the scoring chances they created. On the whole, the fabulous lads lacked the bite upfront. Anytime they came close to scoring, the messed up with Nathaniel Asamoah and Alex Asamoah being the worst culprits. Their midfield and defence however was tidy with John Kuffour and man of the match Awal Mohammed controlling affairs perfectly.

All Stars on the other hand were also not in the game except in midfield and defence where their strengthen lied and therefore held Kotoko confidently. Their goalkeeper, Robert Dabuo pulled some decent saves to nurse his team’s hopes of reaching the final but Kotoko goalie, Soulama Abdoulaye, whose superb 118th minute expert intervention ensured Kotoko’s survival, after Sabato Mohammed’s blunder, also won a lot of admirers at the stadium.

The two goalkeepers did not do much for their teams though during the penalty kicks. All Stars scored four out of five kicks – one short of the number of kicks Kotoko neatly converted. Frank Sarfo Gyamfi, Seidu Salifu, Eric Mensah, Albert Geisie all scored for All Stars whereas Adinan Saeed missed. Awal Mohammed, Daniel Nii Adjei, Fatawu Mohammed, Frank Boateng and Stephen Oduro were the scorers for Kotoko. The evergreen Oduro was carried shoulder-high immediately he excellently converted the last kick, throwing the stadium into wild jubilation.

Unfortunately for All Stars it was a bitter pill pushed down their throat by Kotoko who have beaten them three times this season. All Stars could have won the match when their goalie saved Fatawu Mohammed’s kick. The fair and firm referee Samuel Gyasi however ordered a re-kick because the All Stars goalie moved. Fatawu Mohammed scored the second time before Stephen Oduro came in with the final ‘punch’ to knock All Stars out.

Kotoko: Soulama Abdoulaye, Yaw Frimpong/Sabato Mohammed, Prince Anokye, John Kuffour, Awal Mohammed, Frank Boateng, David Ofei/Stephen Oduro, Nii Adjei, Alex Asamoah, Nathaniel Asamoah/ Afranie Yeboah, Fatawu Mohammed.

All Stars: Robert Dabuo, Tijani Joshua, Joshua Otoo/Adinan Saeed, Albert Geisei, Eric Mensah, Seidu Salifu, Frank Sarfo Gyamfi, Edwin Gyimah, Major Baa Tetteh/Wafaf Alhassan, Frank Nortey Sowah, Seidu Zida Shaibu.