Sunyani gave us our first victory…

Jordan Opoku and teammates celebrate Amed Toure's goal.

There is no doubt that we have genuine Kotoko supporters. Across Ghana and beyond, I’ve met a number of these supporters in my work at Kotoko Express and Asantekotokosc.com. I continue to meet many of them. It’s not as if I didn’t know but I have to reiterate that, my 24hour-stay in Sunyani – the Brong Ahafo Regional capital over the weekend, has reinforced my conviction that, the region has one of the best groups of Kotoko supporters.

It’s perhaps wrong to group Kotoko fans in the region under the big umbrella of the Brong Ahafo Regional Circles Council, knowing very well that, there are thousands if not millions of Kotoko fans in that renowned region who don’t belong to the Circles. I applaud those supporters for their prayers and the unflinching support they gave to Kotoko on Sunday.

These fans turned up in great numbers to fill the Coronation Park to its capacity for 2014/15 First Capital Plus Premier League, match day three fixture against B. A. United. Even though it’s sad that, Kotoko earned nothing at the gates because of the home-take-all-policy, with regard to gate proceeds, it is important to acknowledge that, Kotoko were more concerned with victory and not money matters at the gates.

B. A. United must be smiling all the way to the bank. They don’t have to worry too much as a result.

With the circumstances under which Kotoko came into the match, there was no way, B. A. United were going to win and at the same time, carry away all the huge takings at the gates. As said in street football argument, Kotoko brought them money at gates while they took the three points. That was what mattered most to Kotoko.

The massive presence of Kotoko fans at the Park is one of the reasons, the team won.

While I commend those non-Circle members for their total support, I praise Chairman Kennedy Enyan and his BARCC members who supported management’s work in Sunyani. One may ask how the BARCC’s did that. That isn’t a difficult question to answer.

Supporters play vital roles in winning football matches. It’s all right to prepare players adequately for matches and expect the best results from them. Yet when supporters decide to boycott matches or even show up but turn to be hostile, the repercussions can be serious. I doubt whether in Europe and other advanced societies, organised supporters’ groups host their teams in the manner we do in Ghana.

We have a unique situation where supporters of clubs like Kotoko feel a part of the team. At every visit to their locality, they “make the ground fertile” for victory. That is what the BARCC did. We can’t take away the fact that, management; the technical team and the players performed their roles well in exorcising the ghost that prevented them from winning.

Sunyani played a big part. From the days of former BARCC Chairman, Oppong Brenya, when I first came into contact with Kotoko fans in the BARCC; my observation is that, these supporters don’t turn their backs on Kotoko. There is no denial that, the BARCC remains one of the most organised Kotoko supporters groups; how they have constantly been organised, playing noticeable roles in the affairs of Kotoko is a subject to be interrogated later.

Now that victory has come, we must share the joy and work towards consistent wins. It was good that, the technical team rang changes in the team, dropping three players who were in the Sekondi Hasaacas game. Goalkeeper, Ofori Antwi was in for Joseph Addo while Amos Frimpong replaced Ohene Brenya with Michael Akuffu starting ahead of Richard Mpong.

There was total team play. Ofori Antwi wasn’t really tested but he fared well on the few times he was called to duty. The partnership between Abeiku and Amos was fantastic. Bonney and Asante worked well in their respective wingback positions. Jordan displayed true leadership.

Amed Toure was phenomenal. Owusu Jackson, Akuffu, Frank Sarfo Gyamfi, Obed Owusu and substitutes, Dauda Mohammed, Kwadwo Poku and Ohene Brenya, who came on for Amos in the 95th minute, all played excellent supporting roles in their corresponding positions.

I can’t tell if the technical team will stick to the same line-up in the next game on Friday against Inter Allies at home but having kept four players from the Aduana match up to the B. A. United, there is utmost certainty that, Didi will stick to his performers in search of another win.

Bad start but no cause for alarm…

Kotoko's performance in the 2014/15 has been under scrutiny.

Despite widespread reports of a court injunction sought by King Faisal to stop the commencement of the 2014/15 Premier League First Capital Plus Premier League, the competition kicked off without a hitch on Saturday with two matches and six other matches on Sunday. It was fun. This fun however almost eluded us.

When I heard media reports that, King Faisal were in court again, I felt angry. My anger emanated from fears that, with the preparations that clubs have undertaken within a short time after the GFA’s Congress, a restraining order from the court was to send us back on ice.

Thankfully, within hours, the GFA sent a circular informing clubs to “disregard” the media reports that the league wouldn’t start in view of the court injunction, saying that, their league schedule would come on as planned. If there was anything that surprised me a lot about the purported injunction, it wasn’t the extensive media report it received but rather the gleeful haste with which sections of the media broke the news.

I admit that, no one really determines for us what makes us happy and what saddens us but when we raise wine glasses over negative developments that have consequences on national development, I ask myself if something isn’t wrong with us as a people.

It’s good that the competition finally got underway because the thirst for local football action had become too strong and that the GFA, with who King Faisal have been in court for more than four months, consequently delaying the start of the Premier League, had to act swiftly to save clubs from further loss and disappointment. King Faisal’s quest for justice cannot be faulted though.

At this juncture, I only wish them well in their pursuit. Away from that, Kotoko were away to Aduana Stars. Against hopes of defying the oddities at the Agyeman Badu Park to record their first victory at that particular venue, where they have not won since the 2009/10 season, the Porcupine Warriors lost 0-1.

That, Kotoko were determined to end Aduana Stars’ six-year-old home invincibility in their meetings was not a matter in any doubt. Yet the Dormaa Ahenkro side proved stronger like they have done in previous games. I won’t say much on that except to stress the point that, as Coach Mas-ud Didi Dramani and his players return home to face Hasaacas on match day two on Wednesday, they also have to maintain the status quo.

Kotoko must beat the Giants of the West, who in impressive style went guns blazing to thump Liberty Professionals 3-1. I am comforted by the fact that, the season has just started. There’re 29 more matches to be played. The team has to put the loss to Aduana Stars behind them. They must focus firmly on Hasaacas. Whatever lesson that has to be learnt must have been learnt.

I have confidence in the team for the simple reason that, there are quality players in there. From goalkeeping to attack, Kotoko boast of an excellent group of players who can deliver at any time. It hurts to lose but it should also not be forgotten that, Dormaa Ahenkro has constantly been a slippery ground for Kotoko. The team shouldn’t dwell too much on Sunday’s defeat.

 

I implore the technical team to check their deployment of the players in the next game. That’s critical. It surprised many at Dormaa Ahenkro when Kwadwo Poku started at the right side of defence. Until Christopher Bonney substituted Kwadwo Poku, many were those who expressed their displeasure with the coach’s decision to field Kwadwo Poku in that position.

The technical team definitely has a reason for that. I will not comment on how Kwadwo Poku performed in that defensive role except to stress that, in times of defeat, what the team needs most is encouragement and support. We must offer that. We must not throw our hands in despair. Hopefully, the team will bounce back in Wednesday’s game. No one should give up.

It is just too early for supporters to sound bitter and discouraged. Pain, defeat or failure always comes with a sour taste in our mouths. It will be better tomorrow if it wasn’t good today. That conviction should guide the players and supporters into the next game. In the meantime, I wish all Kotoko Express readers and Asantekotokosc.com visitors well in the New Year while I also pray for God’s blessing for them.

September 21: tentative date for league start

September 21, 2014 has been picked by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) as the tentative date for the start of the 2014/2015 First Capital Plus Premier League. The GFA’s Congress which ushers the football fraternity into the new season has also been fixed for August 28, 2014.

A circular from the GFA’s Communications desk said: “Tentatively, the GFA Congress has been scheduled for 28th August with the start of the First Capital Plus Premier League penciled for 21st September pending the approval of Congress”.

Clubs and football fans have been calling on the GFA to announce the date for the start of the Premier League after Ghana’s abysmal failure at last month FIFA World Cup in Brazil. However, the FA could not come out with the date because games in Zone 1B of the Division One League were yet to be cleared at that time. Secondly, the date for the start of the league could not be announced at the time Congress had not been held.

Now with date for Congress fixed and play-off matches in Zone 1B over with B. A. United recording two wins and a draw – therefore joining Great Olympics and Feyernood for the 2014/2015 season, clubs can now tell when to start and end their pre-season programme.

Local football fans can as well heave a sigh of relief knowing that, barring any last minute change, Premier League action will return in the third week of next month.

A poem for Soulama Abdoulaye

All that enters time’s space leaves at a time

Day, night comes; none takes other’s place

Evening precedes noon at its time and pace

After night surely comes day with no space

The smiling sun shines bright at day

The moon brightens the dark at night

So light and stars don’t dim anyhow

They have reasons and seasons

Thus times come when one has to bow

To bow in joy no matter the pain is gain

No gain comes without pain; so it has

Been for the true son of Burkina Faso

Soulama Abdoulaye; Soulama Abdoulaye

Truly committed; respected national goalie

One time best goalie in Ghana; certainly

One that Burkina-Ghana sees as reliable

Ghana-Burkina has good ties

Ties as friendly neighbours no doubt

Many things we doth share and like

Not least, our pure love for football

A sport in which we abound in talents  

No wonder we train and trade the talents 

For gain and never for loss at any hour

For sports, for competition and power

For pride and joy; for glory and honour

Soulama in all you excelled at Kotoko

2007/08 season you first burst onto the scene

Six seasons, seven years in serious service

Your good and bad days our eyes could see

In all you did Kotoko and football fine service

When you were unbeatable and unstoppable

When you were supreme and knew no fall

When you were strong like China’s great wall

All that we loved and shared; now we recall

Ties that bind usually are painful to severe

Here I come to you with a poem to serve

Soulama, Soulama, Soulama

You serve well Kotoko in all seasons

I know not how my poem will look

I trust thee that you will remain good    

 

PLB wants amendments in FA regulations

Information available to GhLocalfootball indicates that the Premier League Board (PLB) has presented a document to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) seeking amendments to portions of the FA’s regulations.

The league body met at the Holiday Inn, Accra to review the 2013/2014 season. The meeting discussed modalities for the upcoming U-17 League, registration of players for the 2014/2015 season as well as the roadmap for the implementation of the club licensing system.

The PLB members were also briefed by their Chairman, Welbeck Abra Appiah on his recent visit to Germany.  Speaking in a brief interview after their “off-site meeting”, the PLB Boss confirmed that, apart from submitting their proposal to the GFA on when the possible start of the 2014/2015 league, they further suggested that portions of the GFA’s regulations should be amended.

Abra Appiah declined to give details on the proposed date for the start of the 2014/2015 season. He also didn’t give any information on the specific regulations they would want amended. The PLB boss however hoped that, the Executive Committee of the FA would consider their recommendations when they meet.