Deputy Hearts coach Henry Wellington bemoans their squad-size in Kotoko President's Cup defeat

Published on: 04 July 2017

Hearts of Oak deputy coach Henry Wellington Lamptey has congratulated Asante Kotoko for winning this year’s President’s Cup, but lamented on the number of players they took to the match.

The two sides locked horns on Sunday at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium but the game was abruptly ended following a heavy down pour when the score line was tied at 1-1 apiece.

But in a rescheduled match on Monday, the Porcupine Warriors defeated their sworn rivals Hearts of Oak 4-1 on penalties to successfully defend their President’s Cup crown after the game had ended in goalless stalemate in regulation time.

And stand-in trainer of the Phobians, Henry Wellington has attributed their loss to fatigue on his players which culminated in cramps to two of his key players, but admitted that his rivals were deserved winners.

“Penalty is anybody’s game and we’re not downhearted but we came in to win. I must congratulate Asante Kotoko for winning this match.” Wellington told reporters.

“Kotoko had an advantage over us in the game because yesterday after the match was rained-off, we had to manage the players we came here (Kumasi) with while they had the luxury of changing almost half of their team.”

“We came with just 20 players and this caused the cramps on my some of my players.”

“I’m satisfied with our performance in the two games we played and if we’re going to continue in this same vein, the sky will be our limit.”

The two sides meet again in two weeks’ time on match day 22 of the Ghana Premier League at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

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