By: Kojo Addae-Mensah

Date: 25-11-11

 
And it came to pass that the so called super clash of Ghana ended in a goalless draw with the points split between Ghana's two most glamorous clubs.

Once again the two clubs proved to the powers that be that without them Ghana soccer at least for now will go no where. The football standard could have been better but it was acceptable.

The crowd was very impressive and there are no two other clubs who can pull this kind of crowd to any stadium. That is why I insist that with the right planning and execution, the local league can come back to the days where there was no competition from TV and European soccer.

I think the 70s and 80s had a relatively easier deal because there was virtually no competition from TV and the lure of following European soccer. Today the challenges are different but we proved last Sunday that all is not lost.

I had the privilege to be on radio on the Saturday before the game and said that the hype and interest in the league had been heightened by the fact that the two teams were occupying the top two places on the league and a win for Kotoko was going to cement that
lead while a win for hearts would push them to the top.

I can bet you that if both of us were languishing mid table with nothing at stake, the
attendance may not have been this impressive.

The game started and ended with no major incidents reported. Actually I went home feeling like the fans had conducted themselves well, the security was tight and considering that things have been worse before, there was a marked improvement.

I was therefore quite surprised on Monday morning monitoring various programs when I started to hear that there had been some skirmishes especially before the game.

Unless the press are blowing these skirmishes out of proportion, I am not sure there will be a game without some minor skirmishes.

I can live with that as long as this does not lead to any insults, injuries or worse still death. The tension between the two clubs is high and dealing with humans makes it quite impossible to have everything 100% smooth, but I will accept the one that only increase the enjoyment of the game.

Just like before the game when I went to our adopted spot with my friend Paul Awuah and his brother Robert, There was a mix of both hearts and Kotoko fans having fun and
teasing each other with a lot of brotherly spirit.

It was a sight to behold and it was with the same joy and enthusiasm that we entered the
stadium. I had said on the Saturday that my football brain was telling me a scoreless draw but my heart was telling me an emphatic win.

As it turned out, what I said on radio came to pas but I was very disappointed. We should have won the match by at least two goals. The glaring chances wasted by Nat and Toure are still on my mind.

Yahaya's free kick that hit the post is hard luck but Toure and Nat should have scored. Today, Toure is making Boampong a hero more than he really is. I accept that he plays well but I am not sure he is as brilliant as he is being made to look.

The defence had its moments but was largely the bright side on the day. I think Coach Maxwell is doing the right thing on Awal and I hope that after not conceding a penalty in the game, his confidence will shoot higher and he will stop giving away cheap penalties.

I believe that if we go this season unbeaten, there is likelihood that we will win the league. I know that a loss and two wins is better than three draws where the later is an unbeaten record but with less points.

I however believe that we have the ability to score goals. The adrenaline and tension that is used to play a Hearts-Kotoko game is different and I don't think all the teams we will meet will be able to raise their game to the level that hearts managed to last Sunday and so we should be able to take our chances and score the teams as and when they come along.

So though I am disappointed, I am happy we are still unbeaten and should then now focus on the coming matches to ensure we take maximum points all the way. Kotoko have a good team and a deep enough bench to win the league.

I can see Berekum Chelsea have picked their form and are now hot on our heels but I don't think we should panic because we should be able to handle them.

Before the match I was very apprehensive about refereeing and had said that a competent referee should be in the middle of the park irrespective of where he came from. In the end I will say Referee Awal passed the test in my books.

It was not with flying colors as there were a few errors he made but nothing I can't tolerate. I have seen worse even at international level.

While on my way home, Glen Johnson went on a mazy solo run and slotted the ball home to dismantle the blue bridge in London. That crowned my day and I still never walk alone.

We have not been able to stamp our authority on HOK yet. I hope this will happen in Kumasi next year.

I remain your true red fabulous aficionado.

Kotoko Beku Me.