By: Kwame Dwomoh-Agyemang

Date: 31-10-11

If there was one game that has troubled the Porcupine family over the years, it surely has to do with fixtures against Kpando Heart of Lions. I honestly do not need to recap how they have conspired to decisively decision us on countless occasions over the last few years.

I did say in the previous edition that they had lost some steel and venom as a result of the club’s policy to sell players and balance the books.

Losing former CEO Frimpong-Manso just before the commencement of the season only added to the challenges they had to deal with as a club.

The replacements that have come in may not be that good like Bekoe and co but you clearly do not underestimate the might of these sides as they always seem to build one new team after the other after wholesale sales to clubs on the local scene and beyond.

Paa Kwasi Fabin’s return to the side had done its bit to heighten the anxiety going into the game. After all, he had led the same side some years past to pummel the Fabulous lads into submission.

In the face of all the above though, Kotoko’s strong start to the season was ample proof that the side had sought to work on its challenges and fashion out strategies to get results week in week out.

The manager has been wise enough to play the cautious card never mind getting results in his last two games and this I applaud very much. I am sure it may be a bit different when he is with the lads. Psychologically though, it looks like it is playing to his advantage.

He is taking one game at a time and seizing the opportunity to build up a winning spirit with the lads knowing very well that he had three straight games to play at the Baba Yara.

Konadu is still new on the job and getting to know the lads better and how he can get the best out of these players.I don’t need to tell you whether he is getting things right. The results speak for themselves.

On the other hand though, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a manager being arrogantly confident going into games as this even has the tendency of unsettling opponents.

Real Madrid Manager Jose Mourinho would have a lot to say about that. It is good to talk tough but it is the results that matter and as long as he is doing that, we can only urge him to take that path of being a result oriented manager.

To the game itself and I was particularly delighted with the speed and strong start to the game. What this does is to completely catch your opponents unawares and cause them to commit mistakes.

As if that message was carried out to the lads either by design or a tactical ploy, it looks like they executed that to precision by taking a lead as early as the eighth minute.

Yaw Frempong, who has put in some amazing performances since signing for the club last season was once again at his menacing best down the right flank with a delightful inswinger that found in-form marksman Ahmed Toure who coolly dispatched it into the net. It was a dream start for all the faithful at the stadium and beyond.

 With the side on the ascendancy, you could literally feel the buzz whether you were inside the stadium or monitoring through radio commentary. Kpando Heart of Lions were clearly on the backfoot and it surely was a good time for the lads to pile on the pressure to get a second if not a third to all but put the game to bed before the end of the first half.

Disaster struck though as Kotoko were forced into a substitution as early as the 18^th minute as Michael Anaba made way for David Ofei. Anaba looked to have picked up an injury and was obviously in pain at the time he was substituted.

A like for like substitution for me as Ofei has the tendency to play just like Anaba either on the wings,play as an attacking triumvirate or behind the front two.

The Kpando lads though managed to contain the storm that hit them for a few minutes as they found their feet with leadman Gilbert Fiamenyo trying desperately to make things happen for his side.

In their attempt to surge forward for the equalizer though, they left huge craters at their defence which was decisively punished by Nathaniel Asamoah.

The striker raced to pick a pass from David Ofei and skipped inside the box before firing home for the second goal to give the side a deserved 2-0 lead after only twenty six minutes.

The momentum at this point had surely swung in Kotoko’s favour and it was understandable that the fans, who were loving every bit of the action, were calling for more goals.

Kotoko though kept it tight for the remaining minutes of the first half and looked to catch their opponents on the break as and when opportunities presented itself. This they did perfectly till the referee brought the first half to an end

Lions came back strongly in the second half but failed to take advantage of the opportunities that came their way with striker Gilbert Fiamenyo the worst culprit. Only the heavens know what a grandstand to the end we could have had at the stadium if Fiamenyo had managed to bury one of these chances.

Disaster looked to have hit Kotoko pretty hard midway through the second half when Nathaniel Asamoah looked to have collided badly with Lions goalkeeper Osei Bonsu and had to be stretched off.

It clearly did not look good as they player was whisked off a stretcher and taken to Hospital. Word though has it that the player is recovering at the hospital.

Lion made two changes of their own in as Isaac Donkor was replaced by Mensah Maestro with Anaba Mohammed coming for Ofosu Amoah but all to no avail.

The game ended with no goals being scored in the second half but I am sure the fans per their actions looked pretty satisfied as it was another three points in the Kitty.

In the face of all these though, I would want to use this opportunity to admonish the tireless workaholic Michael Akuffo for his strong start to the season. What a signing he is turning out to be.

He goes about his duty with so much command and calmness and I am sure it is only a matter of time before he makes it big on the bigger stage. He is that serious I gather with training and it clearly shows with his attitude on the pitch on matchdays. More grease brother.

To all the other lads who keep fighting for the Kotoko cause, we appreciate your efforts loads and admonish you to work harder. The spirit is surely back as we sit pretty much on top of the league with ten points from a possible twelve.

The future looks bright and we as fans can only continue to support the lads to make it big.

Thanks for reading this piece.

Fabulous, the greatest.