Kotoko's Nti: Kingston's red card was well planned

By Ameenu Shardow

Officials of Asante Kotoko claim Laryea Kingston’s sending off in the big Ghanaian derby was pre-meditated.

The experienced midfielder was sent off just minutes into the second half for a bad tackle on defender Baba Abdul Rahman.

The Phobians where at the battling to draw level when Kingston rightly received his marching orders.

But Kotoko’s administrative manager Ben Nti says the sending off was as a result of serious psychological planning before the game.

“There are things we asked Rahman to do which drew the red card,” he told Kumasi-based Angel FM.

“We call it Laryea’s Hearts of Oath not of Oak. It is all psychological which was planned and it worked to perfection.

“We sat here and told supporters Laryea will get a red card, this is not juju, it is merely psychological.

“We want to prove that in football psychology plays a major role. We invested so much to ensure the players were well psyched ahead of the tie and disabuse their minds of primitive ways.

“Otherwise I am sure no one would have believed we will be able to restore our lead just moments after they (Hearts) scored.”

The win sees the Porcupine Warriors extend their lead at the summit of the Ghanaian top flight to twelve points with just six games left to go.