By: David Kyei, Sogakope

Date: 06-10-11

As the days close in for the start of the 2011/12 Glo Premier League, clubs have started putting finishing touches to their preparation and Kotoko is no exception in that quest.

Last Wednesday at the Red Bull Academy at Sogakope, Fabulous Asante Kotoko engaged and beat their hosts 2-1 in a practice match that saw hundreds of people occupying every available sitting and standing space of the beautiful terraces to watch Kotoko play.

Among the spectators was the board member in charge of projects, Wilberforce Mfum, who joined from Accra to watch the match, and according to him, his journey was worth making.

He spoke highly of the technique being employed and expressed content with the conditioning of the team.

The former national goal poacher however expressed concern with the lack of communication amongst the players and described it as a dangerous thing that must be avoided at all times.

“The team played well and did a lot of tactical moves that can only be as a result of rehearsed plans at training”. 

“However, they do not talk amongst themselves when the game is on and so it tends to affect the way they defend our ranks. Our players need to talk to themselves especially when they see their opponents closing in on a colleague”.

“I have seen the team train and also play matches and I can conclude that I am comfortable with our preparation for the coming season”.

Coach Maxwell Konadu assembled two team for the match with each team playing in each half.

The first team did well and implemented rehearsed strategies that saw the Kotoko back keeping a clean sheet.

For the records, Kotoko’s goalies for the first half, young Felix Annan, had his first touch (grab) of the ball in open play in the 40^th minute.

The defence of Sabato Mohamed, Eric Donkor, Amos Frimpong and Yahaya Mohamed kept a tight lid on their opponents.

Sacko Idrissa and Albert Bruce in the middle were a delight to watch whilst the attackers of Richard Yeboah, Stephen Oduro, David Ofei and Augustine Okrah did not give the Red Bull attack a breathing space.

David Ofei beat an offside trap in the 43^rd minute to latch on to a Yahaya Mohamed long pass to lob the ball past the on rushing goalkeeper for the opening goal.

The second half saw Kotoko parading an entirely new squad whilst Red Bull brought on some more men to strengthen their team.

The tempo of the match at this time heated up and it was therefore not a surprise that the attackers of both teams pressurized each other for goals.

Kotoko found the second goal through Fatawu Mohamed in the 57^th minute and Red Bull succeeded in pulling one back not too long after.

The match ended with both clubs having tested their arsenals for their respective assignments.

Kotoko Team 1:Felix Annan, Sabato Mohamed, Eric Donkor, Amos Frimpong, Yahaya Mohamed, Sacko Idrissa, Richard Yeboah, Albert Bruce, David Ofei, Stephen Oduro and Augustine Okrah .

Kotoko Team 2: Isaac Amoako, Razik Mohamed, Baba Rahman, Ohene Brenya, Awal Mohamed, Michael Akuffu, Nathaniel Asamoah/ Daniel Boateng, Frank Boateng/Afranie Yeboah, Kofi Nti Boakye/ Michael Anaba, Ahmed Toure/ Michael Mensah,  and Fatawu Mohamed/ Nii Adjei