By: Jerome Otchere

Date: 08-11-11

Accra based Tudu Mighty Jets will have a huge mountain to climb at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium tomorrow afternoon when they face Kumasi Asante Kotoko in the week six, 2011/2012 Glo Premier League fixture.

While Mighty Jets drew goalless in their home duel against Ebusua Dwarfs last Saturday, Asante Kotoko threw away their first half 1-0 lead with only three minutes remaining to draw 1-1 at the Golden City Park against stubborn Berekum Arsenals.

The pain and discontent Kotoko supporters including the players suffered over the Berekum outcome was enormous and that is why Mighty Jets would have things extremely difficult overpowering Kotoko, who must will everything to win to appease their teeming followers.

Besides that the Porcupines have been formidable at home since the start of the competition, winning all their home games – scoring five goals and conceding none. The record for Mighty Jets in their two away encounters however is nothing to write home about. They have lost both matches and scored only two. Coming up against an Asante Kotoko team, that has been strong at home and what is more, having dropped vital points away in Berekum when they almost had everything in their basket to Kumasi, it would take more than an extraordinary effort from Mighty Jets to cause an upset on Wednesday.

That notwithstanding, Kotoko must draw lessons from the often unpredictable nature of football in order not to underestimate their opponents in tomorrow’s midweek clash. In addition, Asante Kotoko’s last season’s experience in the hands of Mighty Jets – not really in the Accra encounter (where Jets won 2-0) but of course the first leg tie at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, in which Kotoko struggled to beat Jets 1-0 should send a clear message to the fabulous team.

We need not dismiss the threat Mighty Jets can pose. Coach Maxwell Konadu and his charges aptly know the task ahead of them. They are taking no chances to put Mighty Jets exactly where they belong. Mighty Jets, who are 12th on the 16-team league table, will fight hard to impress their small admirers back in the national capital, Accra.

Again, any side that comes up against Kotoko goes to great lengths to be impressive. That point cannot be overemphasized as we welcome Mighty Jets. Kotoko need the three maximum points badly not alone to fortify their hold of the second spot on the table at the moment but also to aid our build-up to recapture the first spot in the likely event that temporary leaders Accra Hearts of Oak drop points against Dwarfs in Cape Coast.

Furthermore, supporters of Kotoko must turn up at the stadium to support and cheer the team while they refrain from needless antagonism some of them have unfortunately started against some of the players because Sunday’s draw at Berekum. What the team deserves at this time is peace and a supportive attitude, not pointless demonization that could derail their efforts in the season.

While stressing that point, Coach Maxwell Konadu also has much work to do in talking to the players on the need to accommodate pressure very well and not crumble at the most crucial stage like it was witnessed at the Golden City Park. Kotoko Express’ interactions with the players on Sunday night revealed their burning desire to improve on the Berekum performance, which means that they will fight for a win against Mighty Jets at all cost.

The team trained on Monday afternoon. They are expected to continue this morning before they finalise their preparation this evening and tomorrow morning for the game that kicks off at 3pm. No significant changes are expected in Coach Maxwell Konadu’s starting line-up particularly when there was no disturbing report of injury or ill-health in camp. Maxwell Konadu is thus likely to maintain virtually the same side he has paraded in the first five games.

He however will deepen his tactical exposition to the players and insist that they stick to it.

Mighty Jets look like mince meat on paper but they are not in reality. The Porcupines must bear that in mind and go all out, maintain their composure to bag the three points at stake.

Finally, it ought to be stressed that the rate at which the defence commits fouls in the 18-yard box, for which the entire team is penalised is worrying. The defenders must consequently be cautious of their tackles in that delicate area of the field. The midfield must also improve on their creativity and combativeness as the attack is encouraged to utilise their chances.