By: Bernard Nyankomago Yeboah

Date: 22-09-11

Central defender Henry Ohene Brenya has called on the teeming supporters of Asante Kotoko to throng the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in their numbers and lend their unflinching support behind the players when they face Accra Hearts of Oak in the first leg of the MTN Super Two contest on Sunday.

Speaking to Kotoko Express on Wednesday evening after training, the rugged defender said though he was convinced Kotoko would emerge victorious, he believes the amount of support that the team would enjoy at the stadium would help make the task on their shoulders easier.

“Support is very crucial in matches of this nature so I want our supporters to wear their red and white colours and come massively to support us to victory” he said.

The Porcupine Warriors have gone through a lot of preparations since the 2010/11 football season came to an end and now is the moment for the team to prove their battle readiness for the new premier league season starting October 9.

Aside their 12 day training tour in Serbia where Kotoko tested their strength against both premiership and lower division sides like F.K Sovojno, Metalac, F.K Zagruda, Slobodan Caca and Vojvodina, the team has also played a series of trial matches against Warri Wolves, Medeama SC and Venomous Vipers at home all in preparations for the incoming season.

The technical staff in conjunction with management has also recruited some new players including Kofi Nti Boakye, Sakko Iddrisa, Amos Frimpong, Yahaya Mohammed, Benjamin Acheampong, Abdul Rahman, Augustine Okra, Mustapha Mumuni, Osei Kofi, Eric Donkor, Michael Anaba, Seidu Mutawakiru among others to beef up the Kotoko set up.

These new players have fared well so far at the training grounds and are poised to join forces with the old guards like Isaac Amoako, Yaw Frimpong, Awal Mohammed, Nii Adjei, Michael Akuffu, Ahmed Toure, Nathaniel Asamoah and co to put Hearts to sleep on Sunday.

 Ohene Brenya who is looking up to a successful game said he and his colleagues are under no pressure ahead of the much awaited duel. But knowing very well that a convincing victory would inspire them for the premier league, he stressed the need to attach much importance to it since it forms part of their off season preparations.

“It’s very important to approach it with much seriousness because there are a lot of things at stake in Kotoko-Hearts games. Victory on Sunday will boost our morale for the new season apart from the usual bragging rights that we will get over Hearts” he explained.

Asked whether the continuous defeats to Hearts at the same venue in the 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11 Glo Premiership is still haunting them, Ohene Brenya said “Whatever happened in the past is now history. We are not thinking about it anymore. I believe the team we have today is capable of beating Hearts and any other side at any given time”.

He was much excited about the way the new arrivals have been cooperating well with the old ones in all Kotoko activities. He noted that if that spirit of unity and seriousness among them continues like that Kotoko would be a difficult side to beat in the new season.

He made a passionate appeal to all Kotoko supporters and sympathizers who will throng the Baba Yara Stadium to comport themselves well and have total patience especially for the new players.  

“I know our fans will expect nothing but victory once we are playing against Hearts. But I plead with them to comport themselves well especially when the going gets tough. They must know that most of the players around are new and might not be able to sustain the huge pressure that normally comes from Kotoko supporters in crucial matches of this nature” he pleaded.

In his response to how he sees the 2011/12 league fixtures Ohene Brenya believes Kotoko has got what it takes to successfully sail through despite admitting that some of the victories will not come on a silver platter.

Coach Maxwell Konadu and his lads will trek to the Harbour City to battle newly promoted side, Tema Youth in their first league fixture to be followed with another crucial encounter against Ashgold, then Bechem United, Kpando Heart of Lions and Berekum Arsenal.