By: David Kyei

Date: 11-12-11

Coach Maxwell Konadu has told his players in a post training briefing to take full advantage of the Uhuru Cup match that comes off in Tanzania on Sunday to fine tune their preparation for next Wednesday’ s epic Glo Premier League match against second  placed Berekum Chelsea.

He has also said he sees the Tanzania trip as a fine opportunity for the team (especially the young and ‘inexperienced’ players) to have a feel of the continental stage so that they can build their confidence on from there.

According to the coach, Kotoko as a club does not lack in international exposure, but some of the players rather lack.

“You therefore have to take full advantage of the trip and make sure that you do not go for sight-seeing, but rather learn new things that will help in your total career development”.

In an interview with Kotoko Express after the meeting, the coach re-iterated his decision to take full advantage of the Uhuru Cup match.

“You know that as part of our preparation for the league matches we do play practice matches against lower division clubs to fine-tune our strategies and luckily for us, we have this bigger stage and opposition to get our acts together before next Wednesday’s match”.

“The Tanzania trip is important to me because the young players will have the opportunity to add to their experience gathering profile”.

Drawing from history and the kind of image Kotoko has curved out for herself on the continent and especially in Tanzania, Coach Maxwell assured that Kotoko will make a good account of themselves.

“I have been told that Kotoko in 2006 travelled to Tanzania and performed so well there. I am sure this might have been one of the reason why they turned to us when the need arose for them to look for a foreign club to celebrate their Golden Jubilee with”.

“Much in the same way or better than before, we shall also give the organizers and Tanzania another good reason for them to invite Kotoko always. We will play well and serve them better football”.

“If you look at the team we will be presenting for the match, you would know that we have not taken the match lightly because a victory there will set us up in a good tone for the league match that we will have to play immediately on our return”.

With his eyes firmly on amassing all the three points in the match against Berekum Chelsea, Coach Maxwell hinted on a plan that will ensure that Kotoko return to Kumasi with full strength.

“I shall insist that we play all our substitutions so that no single player would be overly worked. We will need to balance the task on the field so that tiredness would not set into the team”.

“This does not mean that we are not going to take the invitation seriously. It is a cup match and I am sure it is nice and the dream of all Kotoko fans that we return with the Uhuru Cup. Every trophy counts and so nothing would be left to chance,” he concluded