Kumasi Asante Kotoko will commence the race to reclaim the lost premier league title with an away game to West Africa Football Academy (WAFA) at Sogakope. The Reds have been in scintillating form in the off-season and has seen that turn into the bookmakers favourite to win the 2015/16 Ghana premier league.
sportscrusader.com profiles each of the 29-registered players who will do battle wearing the famous Kit of the Porcupine warriors.
Ernest Sowah
The elegant goalkeeper is the newest amongst his colleagues in the club. And he definitely adds so much to the competition being that he recently was part of the Senior National Team, The Black Stars, but has lost his place due to lack of playing time at his former club Don Bosco from where he joined Kotoko in the off-season. His achievement tells of the calibre of a goalkeeper he is whereas his current situation means he wouldn’t stop at nothing but playing time at Kotoko. He started in two games this season and conceded none. His starts included a showpiece against Elmina Sharks at Elmina where his two point-blank saves aided Kotoko to a 1-0 win.
Felix Annan
He is also elegant and he does his work pretty much the same way. He returned from a year-long loan spell at WAFA where his exploits won him a call-up into the home-based Black Stars. He is difficult to beat once he has eyes on the strike. Felix Annan did tremendously well this preseason and his memorable afternoon obviously was when he saved four penalty kicks when he backed the Libya squad to beat the club’s G6 champions by 10-9 on penalties few weeks ago.
Eric Ofori Antwi
The former Amidaus Professionals goalkeeper has been a revelation since he joined Kotoko two seasons ago. He was the first choice goalkeeper last season and has shown enough this preseason that he still deserves that position. Ofori Antwi kept the post against Berekum Chelsea, Ashantigold and Aduana Stars during the First Trust G6 tournament and he put up many tremendous saves which eventually won him the Best Goalkeeper award.
Yuisu Kaisan
The elegant young boy is the youngest amongst his colleagues. He joined the Kotoko youth side having already been part of the 2014 National U-17 side that qualified for the African Championship in Niger but was disqualified on technical grounds. So he, like the rest, has so many prospects which could heavily be enhanced by gaining play time. He got graduated into the first team this preseason.
Amos Frimpong
The coming season is the second for the right-back as captain. Having led a trophy-less run last year, Amos Frimpong have eyes for titles in the coming season and he is prepared very well for it. The utility has been used at several defensive positions in the pre-season and he has shown so much improvement in his tackles at the back and done same with his overlapping qualities, particularly at the right and left wings. He has scored three goals and made two assists so far in the pre-season and he still has more room to improve.
Atta Kusi
He is one player with lots of promise at the right-back position. The former Liberty Professionals player has improved so much in his defensive duties and shown to be a serious threat to opponents whenever on the overlap. He played two games in the First Trust G6 tournament and performed creditably.
Samuel Kyere
The well-travelled player adds up to Kotoko’s prowess at the right-back position. But he also has an added advantage which is that he can perform at the left-back and a few other defensive roles in pretty much an equal measure. The former Berekum Chelsea player played two games during the First Trust G-6 tournament and against Elmina Sharks and showed in hose games he is good enough for the club.
Eric Donkor
He is one of Kotoko’s fast improving players over the last two seasons. After a difficult start to life in Kotoko, the left-footed player’s career began a turnaround two seasons ago and he has never looked back since. He is admired by all for his defensive and attacking qualities and he has added another notch to his game in recent years and that is his effective crosses and on the set pieces.
Emmanuel Asante
Another left footed utility player. The former Bechem United player landed in Kotoko two seasons ago as a left-back. His talent was worked on by the technical team and now he can equally function as a left winger and an offensive midfielder. He missed the Libya trip and the First Trust G6 tournament but has been playing so well in the team since the return of the both sides.
Edwin Tuffour Frimpong
The former Liberty Professionals player is one of Kotoko’s new recruits this season. Though young in terms of presence, he has shown immeasurable talents this pre-season and demonstrated he can do great things for the club in the coming years. He can also play at the centre-back position.
Richard Osei Agyeman
See his seemingly fray stature as a sign of weaknesses and you will be making a huge mistake. The centre-back does not appear the bullish type but yet is every striker’s nightmare since he leaves no room for strikers to operate. The former Berekum Chelsea defender has already become a part of the supporters’ favourites in the team.
Ohene Brenya
The central defender is currently on a career renaissance trail at Kotoko. Having endured a frustrating stint over the last two seasons, many where those who thought the former captain was hitting the end of his Kotoko career until they saw him in the First Trust G6 tournament. Ohene Brenya was so phenomenal at combining strength with agility and leadership at the back. And, he has not looked back since, making him a key candidate for a role at the centre-back position.
Michael Yeboah
The youngster was the only player picked during a talent hunt supervised by Coach David Duncan and his technical staff shortly before the preseason. The unassuming former Corners Babies player is the playmaker type whiles in the middle, and is equally efficient at either side of the wings. He can also operate as a second striker. Though he would be playing Premier League football for the first time having come from a Division-One club, the player demonstrated he would do just fine during the First Trust G6 tournament.
Randoff Akwasi Nti
He is a midfielder tipped to be Kotoko’s future number one playmaker. He got promoted from the club’s U-17 side this season. He may be young in age but very old in terms of performance as he matches up with his opponents both at training and in games. Kwasi Nti was excellent in Kotoko’s second friendly against Al Ittihad in Libya. He had a fantastic day in the friendly game between the Libya squad and the First Trust G6 Champions. He can combine tackles and ball distributions with creating goals and scoring. He showed it with his maiden Kotoko goal which he scored against Bechem United in the Unity Cup played in Kumasi recently.
Kwadwo Poku
He is not too tall in height but a tough challenger any midfielder can be. Kwadwo Poku has hit form and his performances in the preseason make him a key contender for the defensive midfield position. Come close to him with the ball and you are most likely to lose the ball to him, legally. His focus and commitment to games is phenomenal and was one of the key reasons Kotoko won the First Trust G6 tournament.
Stephen Nyarko
Nicknamed the ‘Lion Heart’, the former Wa All Stars play can run, tackle and distribute passes for ninety minutes and yet would show no signs of tiredness. He is skilful on the ball and also has eyes for defence splitting passes. His strength and endurance also allows him roam the pitch, making him a key candidate for any playmaker role. He formed a great partnership with Kwadwo Opoku during the First Trust G6 tournament which deflated the threat of known midfielders of Ashantigold and Aduana Stars.
Bennett Ofori
The tall and lanky player has a talent quite different from his other colleagues. He was brought in from Liberty Professionals this season. He dribbles well and is also very fast both on the ball and off it when he needs to retreat to tackle. He can play at both wings and as a number-10. He is difficult to handle once he has the ball. His height makes him a great threat to opponents whenever a cross or a corner kick is being flown into opponent’s vital territory. He won the Discovery of the Tournament Award during the First Trust G6 tournament.
Theophilus Nyame
He is workaholic. Theophilus Nyame is a very good tackler and he also initiates attacks very well. He is good on the ground and same in the air. The former Sekondi Hasaacas player is living his dream wearing Kotoko’s enviable jerseys and has every potential to have his name written in gold at the club starting this preseason which is his first.
Halipha Sedogo
The Burkinabe import is entering his first season with Kotoko but knows all about Kotoko since he has been around for quite some time. The left footed player can play at both wings and in central offensive midfield role. He is quite diminutive but very strong, aggressive, and one who cannot be intimidated by opponents regardless their size or strength.
Frank Sarfo Gyamfi
Sarfo Gyamfi is a nibble footed speedster of a winger. He is a good dribbler, very fast and equally threatening with his crosses and in-swingers. A lot was expected of him last year couldn’t meet the demands partly due to injuries. Thankfully, he is fitter now and has shown great improvement this preseason and signals are clear that he would do different this time around.
Evans Quao
He is a player who can be used both defensively and in the midfield. Evans Quao combines maturity with power and he is very resolute wherever he plays. His ball control is good and he able to initiate and partake in attacks and build-ups. He joined the club this preseason from Medeama SC and his high level maturity makes him one of the leaders to expect in Kotoko whenever he is out there on the pitch.
Stephen Oduro
The veteran midfielder adds so much creativity to the team. Though he is at the twilight of his career and speed have reduced, his ability to dictate the pace of games, the insightful passes and dribbling skills have not deserted him.
Profile: Kotoko"s Registered Players For The 2015/16 Season
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