A crunch game awaits Kotoko at Sogakope in the Volta Region on match day 23 of the 2014/15 First Capital Plus Premier League. The academy side held Kotoko to a gruelling 0-0 draw in the first round and the return game on Wednesday promises to be a tense, exciting game.
Determined not to lose for the second time after going down heavily last Sunday, the Porcupines will be a hard nut to crack for WAFA. Kotoko lost 3-0 to Berekum Chelsea in a match that left many of their fans shocked and dejected.
They wondered how Kotoko could be torn apart by Berekum Chelsea in that fashion. Coach David Duncan gave no excuses at the post-match press conference.
He described the way in which his team allowed their opponent to score as unpardonable besides retelling the events that led to goals and admitted that, such goals shouldn’t have been conceded.
“The opportunities that were taken by Chelsea were inexcusable on the part of my players; from the corner kick that was not well defended to the counter-attack with two men against one; I thought that when the attacker glided past one of the central defenders, there should have been some covering to prevent the second goal but that didn’t happen†he said.
“With the third goal, I also thought that, the goalkeeper having committed himself should have continued to stay on his feet and ensured that the danger was cleared but he decided to go to the ground; didn’t make contact with the ball and that afforded the attacker to create space and then pick his spot and put the ball into the net†said Coach Duncan.
Against WAFA in Wednesday’s game, such costly mistakes must be avoided if the Porcupines are to return to Kumasi victorious.
The tactically disciplined WAFA team will go to every length to stretch Kotoko and that means, the fabulous boys must give their best to stop WAFA who are 5th placed with 33 points.
Kotoko are 11th with 29 points. As it has been said over and over this season, a win does so much for teams in the competition considering the point-gap between them.
Thus victory for the Porcupines will boost their hopes of ending the season at a dignified position than where they are currently placed.
There are two things Kotoko must do well in the midweek clash: defending well and of course taking their chances.
These were the very things that were their bane in Kumasi. It’s likely that, Coach Duncan will change his team on account of the undesirable result recorded in their last game.
Whether or not he does that, the expectation for the ordinary Kotoko fan will be that, the team wins to bring back some joy into Porcupine family.