Too early to press the panic button

Kotoko’s quest to successfully defend the 2013/14 Premier League suffered a temporary setback at the Kpando Park on Sunday when the Porcupines lost 3-1 to Heart of Lions.

I wasn’t at the match day 16 fixture but monitoring radio commentary and updates on Twitter, I could imagine the wounded lions roaring loudly to exact their pound of flesh after they were humiliated 4-0 in Kumasi in the first round of the competition.

The win by Heart of Lions sends signals to Kotoko that, the Lions are also strong at home. Sunday’s unimpressive outing for Kotoko came as a disappointment but no one should lose hope. It’s just too early to allow discouragement to set in. As worrying as the defeat might appear it shouldn’t lead any genuine Kotoko fan to give up on the team.

It is natural to feel bad because Kotoko lost but I reiterate that, there shouldn’t be the conclusion that, all is lost for Coach David Duncan, his players and the entire team. More matches, in fact, 14 matches are to be played. It will be a show of faint heartedness for anybody to write Kotoko off at this stage. I see the loss to Lions as a warning to the team.

The defeat is to tell Kotoko that, the objective of winning a fourth-straight title won’t come easy. Seeking to win the Premier League on the trot for four times will certainly be difficult. That’s not to say Kotoko can’t. It’s to say that, the Porcupines will face loads of hurdles.

What was seen at Kpando was just one, hence the need for the team to strengthen their resolve. Ashgold gave the clearest of indications that, Kotoko won’t have the title defence easy, by leading from the start of the competition to the end of the first round. They are yet to play their outstanding match.

Ashgold actually play Hearts on Wednesday. Regardless of what the outcome of that game will be, Kotoko’s current position (9th) shouldn’t create any trouble in the club. We should believe that the team will bounce back. I’m confident of that. My confidence stems from my conviction that, the team has the wherewithal to overturn the table.

It has to be acknowledged however that Kotoko have a tough path to travel. On Sunday, Kotoko will be at home to Edubiase. That will be followed by two visits to Accra to play Great Olympics and Liberty Professionals. Then they will return to Kumasi to host Bechem United. I don’t think I will be demanding too much if I ask the team to win all these matches to make serious claim for the title.

Medeama, Berekum Chelsea, WAFA, Ashgold and Hearts will be Kotoko’s opponents after hosting Bechem United. The last five matches of the season will see Kotoko engaging All Stars, Inter Allies, B. A. United, Hasaacas and Aduana Stars. It has to be noted that, Bechem United, Berekum Chelsea, Ashgold, All Stars, B. A. United and Aduana will all trek to Kumasi.

Kotoko must not drop points in any of those matches. They must however seek vital away points against Olympics, Liberty, Medeama, WAFA, Hearts of Oak, Inter Allies and Hasaacas. I accept that, playing eight away matches with the hope of winning all in no other competition than the First Capital Plus Premier League; is perhaps equal to asking that, your opponents don’t turn up for the matches so that you can be awarded all the points and goals.

That won’t happen. It’s a tall order but Kotoko must fight hard to win away matches too. If Kotoko’s title defence will come to pass, we must seek consistent and favourable away results. With the hope that the team will be spared injuries or ill-health, it’s my expectation that, Coach Duncan doesn’t also tinker with his team too much.

As a relatively new coach at the club, Coach Duncan may still experiment but that should be done cautiously because where and when the experiment doesn’t achieve desired result, the supporters will be unhappy. The coach still has the confidence of most of the supporters. Kotoko supporters’ confidence in the coach is very important in the whole exercise of the title defence because when you have the supporters’ backing, you have everything.