Asante Kotoko striker Albert Amoah has set his sights on securing a dominant victory over bitter rivals Hearts of Oak when the two sides lock horns in their Ghana Premier League Matchday 22 encounter this weekend.
The Porcupine Warriors will welcome the Phobians to the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday in one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season, with both clubs desperate for maximum points to boost their title hopes.
Kotoko head into the clash on the back of a difficult run of results, having suffered successive defeats. They first lost to Heart of Lions in the league before their FA Cup campaign came to an abrupt end following a loss to Aduana FC.
The team is also adjusting to life without a substantive head coach after Karim Zito stepped down from his role. In the meantime, assistant coaches Prince Yaw Owusu and Hamza Obeng have been tasked with leading the side into the high-stakes derby.
Despite the recent setbacks, Amoah remains confident Kotoko can rise to the occasion. The forward, who recently returned to the club, says the team is putting in extra effort in training, particularly in front of goal, as they prepare for the showdown.
“We are preparing very well for the Hearts of Oak match,” Amoah told Akoma FM. “We are focusing more on scoring because we need to get more goals against them. I believe we are ready for Sunday.”
He emphasised the importance of the fixture, noting that a win would go a long way in restoring the supporters’ confidence after a string of inconsistent performances.
“We need the points badly against Hearts. It’s important for us to win back the hearts of our fans after our recent results. This is a match our supporters truly need, and getting the victory is very crucial,” he added.
The upcoming clash promises to be fiercely contested, with Hearts of Oak currently sitting fourth on the league table with 36 points, just one ahead of fifth-placed Kotoko on 35 points.
