By: Jerome Otchere

Date: 22-09-11

The Baba Yara Sports Stadium this Sunday afternoon will be the centre of attraction when Kumasi Asante Kotoko welcomes arch rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak, for the much talked about charity match being organised by Christian Non-Governmental Organisation, Come to My Aid International.

Although a friendly game, targeted at raising funds to support both Hearts and Kotoko and indeed activities and programmes of the NGO, hostilities on the pitch will not differ from what is usually witnessed when the two clubs clash in league encounters.

Kotoko and Hearts rarely play trial matches and on this special occasion, they have promised an exciting friendly contest to spectators who will throng the stadium. Kickoff is at 4:30pm.

Plans for the game have gone extremely well. Organisers say handlers of Kotoko and Hearts have indicated their satisfaction with financial terms and conditions for the game. President of Come to My Aid International, Pastor Jude Fosu Gyamfi told Kotoko Express on Wednesday that they are expecting a thrilling football action. He therefore appealed to Kotoko and Hearts supporters to fill the stadium to capacity adding that part of their objectives is to promote and better manage the rivalry between the two teams. 

Kotoko Express was reliably informed that representatives Kotoko and Hearts including the organisers as well as the Police in Kumasi were scheduled to meet on Thursday at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to discuss security plans for Sunday. Nothing is being left to chance, Kotoko Express learnt. With the off-the-pitch arrangements all going perfectly, the two teams have feverishly been preparing to meet the naturally high expectation of their teeming supporters.

Hearts of Oak have pitched camp at Prampram as part of their pre-season training yet with Sunday’s game high on the cards their attention is likely to shift somewhat to the duel. Kotoko on the other hand are not in camp although the pre-season programme is still on course.

Head of Scouting, Malik Jabir alongside Reserve Team Coach Sarfo Castro have been directing affairs firmly at the Adako Jachie in the absence of Head Coach Maxwell Konadu. The fabulous lads were expected to face lower division side, Kumawuman FC in test match on Thursday afternoon before preparations are finalised later today and on Saturday.

Not much has been gleaned from the Hearts camp regarding how their new players are faring or fitting into the Phobian family but at Kotoko the new recruits are steadily finding their rhythm. This was evident in the two training matches keenly monitored by Kotoko Express on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon.

There is therefore a greater likelihood that some of the new players could be in the team for Sunday. Indeed stand-in Coach Malik Jabir said in an interview after Wednesday’s training session that some of new players could have a place in Sunday’s game. But that is where supporters interviewed by Kotoko Express in Kumasi disagree.

A section of the supporters are of the view that irrespective of how well the new players are faring in training, the technical team should shudder from starting or even fielding any of the team in the Hearts game. Others however argue that even though the match is against no other side than Hearts of Oak, some of the new players ought to be fielded.

That is how sharply opinions are divided on whether not some of the new players should be fielded but thankfully there is no confusion in the minds of members of Kotoko’s technical team in terms of selection for the game. Malik Jabir maintains that the best team will be fielded to break the resolve of Hearts who emerged victorious the last time they visited Kumasi.

Kotoko, however, in the return leg clash, inflicted a painful 2-0 defeat on Hearts, leaving the Phobian supporters sorely disappointed with their team. The Porcupines are poised to redeem their image, especially so at the venue they seem not to have fared well against Hearts lately.