There won’t be any Hearts-Kotoko finals in the ongoing FAB G6 tournament as both clubs face each other in the semi-finals at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday afternoon to decide who play Aduana or WA All Stars in the grand finale.
Kumasi Asante Kotoko have distinguished themselves well in the run to this stage. Michael Osei and his charges were flawless running over FA cup winners Bechem United by 3-0 whilst group contenders WA All Stars were also lashed with the same margin hence making Asante Kotoko a tower going into this encounter.
Hearts of Oak have had the greatest luck in football qualifying with just a 1 point and -1 goal after drawing with Medeama and losing out to Aduana in the first group game.
Kotoko’s dominance in over Hearts of Oak should be a concern for stop-guard Henry Wellington. It took the brilliance Of Patrick Razak in the second half to cancel out Kwame Boahen’s first half solo in the second league game in Kumasi after Souloma Abdullaye has mistakenly directed the ball into his goal net in the first league fixture in the Accra.
Significantly on tomorrow’s encounter will be a certain Bernard Dong Bortey who is working is round the clock to be officially registered for his boyhood club. Bernard is not a character who has featured frequently in Hearts and Kotoko matches, however a revered stalwart who has scored more goals against Kotoko than any other local player-12 in total, 10 goals in Phobian strips and 2 in Aduana colours.
Though the winger has lost much of his form his mere presence on the Hearts of Oak bench and even 10 minutes on the pitch will brighten the Asokwa end of the stadium amid fear in the opposite direction.
The stakes favour Asante Kotoko not only as the only side with 100% record but as the defending champions. Most importantly is Michael Osei who has superintended over this fixture for the Kumasi based side both as deputy coach and interim manager.
Kotoko should not take anything away from the Capital champion as they have enviable image at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium and the strength of newly recruited Malik Akowuah cannot be underestimated in tomorrow encounter.
These are word of Malik Akowuah to the warriors family come Sunday “I will score Asante Kotoko and my goal will come from the Amakom stands so for any Hearts of Oak to get the taste of my goal that fan should come early because my goal will come early on Sunday”
Talk has always been cheap, this surely will be the words running through the minds of Kotoko players and supporters as they wait to put their silence to bear tomorrow.
