Complaints over fixtures indefensible

Some Kotoko fans believe the fixtures are not fair. 

While on Kasapa FM’s sports programme over the weekend, my good friend and colleague journalist, Adam Adjei, played a voice clip of some Kotoko supporters expressing their disappointment with the Premier League Board (PLB) Chairman, Ashford Tettey Oku.

Their beef was that, the PLB chairman and the league management body deliberately handed Kotoko tough fixtures in their “despicable attempt to ensure that the Porcupines suffer”. The incensed supporters thus accused the PLB chairman, who formerly was an administrative manager at Hearts of Oak, of bias and manipulation.

After playing the audio file, Adam, then solicited my views – seeking to establish whether or not, I agree with the supporters. It was difficult accepting the supporters’ claims. These are accusations or allegations that come every season but I will be fair here. If you know and has a good understanding of the strength of teams in our league, you wouldn’t easily dismiss those supporters’ fears but then should we always tolerate such allegations without proof?

The PLB has previously dealt with allegations relative to the league fixtures vis-à-vis manipulation, saying that, there’s a computerized system that is used and which according to them, makes it impossible to manipulate the fixtures. You would by now know that, I don’t endorse the allegations of manipulation leveled against the PLB.

Let me however point out that, in the situation where human beings are those who operate or handle whatever system that facilitates the planning of the fixtures, the probability of manipulation or anything fishy being done is real except that in this case, I have no evidence to say anything substantial against Ashford Tettey Oku’s PLB or back those supporters’ claims.

I have deliberately decided not to reproduce the fixtures the supporters talked about in defence of their case for the simple reason that, I think we at Kotoko have to direct our energies to something more profitable or beneficial at this stage. That includes rallying behind Coach David Duncan and his players to get the team good performances and victories.

I plead with every Kotoko fan to help examine whatever is undermining our team in the league from perspectives that will ultimately serve the interest of the club rather than spending precious time discussing conditions that wouldn’t change. Assuming without admitting that, the fixtures were made to favour Hearts, absolutely nothing can be done to alter it.

All we have to do is to play and win our matches. We can’t draw twice at home when others have won and turn around to complain about fixtures, my dear supporters. Kotoko have the strength to take on and beat any team in the league although the team might have already lost and drawn against WAFA, Medeama and Ashgold respectively.

Had the Porcupines won or beaten WAFA, Medeama and Ashgold, we wouldn’t have complained about fixtures favouring one team. Kotoko haven’t chalked desired results in the matches they have played for varying reasons. The team has had to battle unforeseen events like injuries to eight of the 29 players registered for the season.

In other words, Kotoko’s strength in the last three matches was depleted by injury even before the matches got underway. The off-season stars like forwards – Kwame Boateng, Dauda Mohammed, Frank Sarfo Gyamfi and Akwasi Nti all missed the opening game. Not all of them have even been available for the subsequent matches.

The team, in fact, lost two players – goalie, Felix Annan and Edwin Tuffour Frimpong to injuries in its first league game of the season. The duo have since been out of action. The point is, the technical didn’t have many options to choose from ahead of those matches. Fortunately, some of these players are now recuperating or coming back to form.

 

Again, Kotoko haven’t fared well this season because of too much wastefulness upfront. Goals matter in football. If a team doesn’t score, it risks losing. In the same vein, if a team scores and doesn’t defend well, it’s likely to lose. My plea to all who have the club at heart is that, instead of ranting over fixtures, let’s urge Coach Duncan and his players to go all out; stay strong, take their chances and defend well to emerge winners in their matches.