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Sustaining the winning spirit
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Date:
"In any moment of
decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next
best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is
nothing."
- Theodore Roosevelt (1858 -
1919)
Kotoko played a very
difficult match against Heart of Lions and won by two goals to
nil but I must say the players themselves should be the first to
admit that indeed they laboured to win the match.
Baba Yara Sports Stadium is a
very difficult place to win matches but as far as I can
remember, Lions nearly made the Kotoko home grounds a tourist
centre few seasons ago.
Led by Paa Kwasi Fabin, the
Kpando side defeated Kotoko thrice in a row in various
competitions and despite Paa Kwasi moving to Kotoko, they were
still able to hold their own against Kotoko.
That is no more after they
were beaten 2-0 nil by Kotoko last Sunday with Paa Kwasi back in
charge.
I followed the match with
keen interest and I thought Kotoko could have scored more in the
match, just as Lions should have done well to at least score a
consolation goal. Lions dominated the match from the start after
winning the toss of coin and scared the home crowd with some
brilliant moves.
Gilbert Fiamenyo was the
worst culprit and really spared Kotoko. He was so desperate to
score thus committed very basic mistakes. I was happy the Kotoko
coach Maxwell Konadu called Gilbert to the sidelines after the
match and talked to him for several minutes.
Back to the match itself
Kotoko showed Lions how to score goals and did twice find the
net from some wonderful moves. Yaw Frimpong is the man now and I
love to watch him play.
He is brilliant and I am sure
those who doubted his call up to the national team have changed
their perceptions about him. The Feyenoord trained youngster can
run with the ball.
He broke the Lions fight with
one of such moves and crossed beautifully for the reigning best
player, Ahmed Toure, to nod home. It was Kotoko thereafter as
Nathaniel Asamoah scored the second later. Kotoko then went on
holidays from scoring so was Lions despite some fine exchanges.
I picked some few lessons
from the match among which is the fact that every player fits
perfectly into Maxwell’s system so well. In the absence of
Yahaya Mohammed, it was difficult to trace a missing link while
Fatau Mohammed, David Offei and fans’ favorite Stephen Oduro who
had his first taste of the league did fit so well into the team.
Isaac Amoako is also back to
the first team while yet others are still pushing to break into
the first team. Watching the team train at the Adako Jaachie is
wonderful these days, so much seriousness from the men it makes
many a Kotoko fan feel there could be a second Kotoko team which
could compete in the league if permitted and win matches to
place second behind the current first team.
Consolidating the first
position is fantastic and 10 points from a possible 12 is a good
indication the players are yearning for the title.
The Vision 22 is on but the real test begins
from here. Kotoko has won very important duels but the Berekum
match against Arsenal, against Mighty Jets which might not be
too difficult (do I sound over confident?) and then against
Hearts in Accra are going to be very
difficult period for the club.
If it turns out to be three in a row for
Kotoko, then praise the Lord but why should I even be thinking
about three in a row when the most important match now is
against Arsenal?
Do you remember the controversy surrounding
last season’s match between the two clubs? And Berekum remains a
no go area for all clubs but are there any teams in Ghana that
Kotoko is afraid of now?
The players are now in the winning mentality
and everything should be done to sustain that feel good and can
win spirit. It is my hope that Nathaniel Asamoah gets well soon
from the neck injury as Kofi Nti Boakye also prepares to return
but the non availability of Ben Acheampong is a worry to me.
I understand his registration did not go
through meaning the former Wa All Stars target man cannot for
now don the red jersey for Kotoko.
The shocking result Medeama chalked over
Chelsea
and Ashanti Gold’s snatching of a point at Dormaa with ten men
were among the highlights of the matches last weekend.
The league table is taking shape now and it
has been wonderful so far how Ghanaians are following our league
now. I know people are simply refusing to go the stadium to
watch the matches but it has been improving and I know Kotoko
should be one of the clubs to complain of that.
The supporters do watch the matches though
the stadium has not been filled fully these days. One thing is
certain though, the standard of our league has been going up and
it can’t be denied.
I know definitely that by the time
Ghana
kicks off the Cup of Nations campaign against Botswana in January, there would be
a local contingent in the Black Stars team.
Count me among those who insist Ghana should be
the winner of the Cup of Nations next year. It is our time and
everything should be done to make this dream come to fruition.
There are other countries with good teams
and brilliant individuals but
Ghana
should top the Ghana, Guinea, Mali,
Botswana
group and go ahead to lift the Cup.
"The minute you
start talking about what you are going to do if you lose, you
have lost."
-George Schultz
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