Osei Certain Of Win Over United

Asante Kotoko coach Michael Osei is hopeful of a win in their game against Bechem United on Sunday at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

Kotoko are 2nd with 31 points need a win to keep up the pressure on league leaders Wa All Stars.

Coach Osei who is still acting as an interim manager is sure of beating Bechem United.

“We consider the game very important, the three points matter to us, we will be doing everything to fight for it,” he said

The last time the two teams faced off was at the same when in an MTN FA Cup game which Bechem United won on penalties.

“That win they had was painful; very painful that we didn’t know what to do moments after the game.

“It broke our spirit for that moment but we have overcome the pain. We have to teach them a lesson on Sunday. There can’t be two ways about that. We have to beat them.”

Kotoko will be aiming for the fifth straight win at home in the league.

Osei Certain Of Win Over United

Osei Eyes Bechem Scalp

Michael Osei has indicated that Kumasi Asante Kotoko will edge out Bechem United as they come face to face in the MTN FA Cup quarter finals on Sunday.

Asante Kotoko were the only side that handed Bechem United a defeat at home in the first round of the Ghana Premier League.

And before their league visit to Kumasi the two sides have been paired to face each other in the battle for supremacy regarding which team book their ticket to the final four of the national knockout contest.

“I’ve confidence in my team. I’ve the best players. We’re always favourites. Our focus is however on the immediate game.

“The FA Cup is full of surprises. Even in Europe, the big guns fall but we want to qualify to the next stage” Michael Osei told asantekotokofc.com.

Osei Eyes Bechem Scalp

GPL Second Round Will Be Tough

Asante Kotoko interim boss Michael Osei says he is anticipating a tough second round of the 2015-16 Ghana Premier League (GPL).

The Porcupine Warriors began the first round poorly, but ended the round on high note, finishing third behind Wa All Stars and Aduana Stars.

Their hopes of annexing the league title is on course, but Michael Osei says it will not be on silver platter.

“We were able to finish the first round very good so we have to work very hard to make sure the second round will be much better,” Osei told Kumasi based Angel FM.

“Our aim of winning the league depends on how hard we will work. I talk to the players a lot that the second round will be tougher than the first round.” He noted.

The second round of the season will kick off on the 25th of this month.

GPL Second Round Will Be Tough

Osei Debunk Reports

Michael Osei, interim Asante Kotoko coach has debunked reports that he had sour relationship with his former boss David Duncan.

Management of the Porcupine Warriors gave Michael Osei the mandate to lead Kotoko after series of poor results which saw the hierarchy of the club part ways with the Duncan.

The Kumasi-based club experienced their worst start in a decade this season, picking up only five points in six games.

However, Osei has been able to move the Porcupine Warriors thirteen places up to finish the first round third on the log, two points behind leaders Wa All Stars.

Recent reports claim, Osei was the chief architect of an alleged mutiny against Duncan but he laughs off such claims insisting that there were no problems between the two men.

“My relationship with David Duncan was superb and I never planned a mutiny against him. God knows within my heart that I worked with him without any bad intentions especially to take his place,” Osei told Ashh FM.

“I worked wholeheartedly under him throughout last season when he replaced Didi Dramani and the club did well despite losing the league and FA Cup title. Things weren’t working for the club this season in our games but the relationship was just same as always.

“However, it’s been long time since I spoke to him because he doesn’t call me and I don’t call him too,” he added.

Osei Debunk Reports

Michael Revel In Victory

Asante Kotoko coach Michael Osei was delighted after his side’s response the set back in Wa in their matchday 15 victory over Techiman City.

The Porcupine Warriors had a vintage performance and got immediate response following their midweek defeat to Wa All Stars.

Dauda hit hat trick to take his personal tally to 7 of the season before Tuffour Frimpong sealed the win after getting behind the Citizens back line to nod in Eric Donkor’s free kick.

And Michael Osei was full praise for his men.

“It was very important three points and I think the players did very well because they were determined to win this game at all cost and I liked the way we have ended the first round.” he said in his post match press.

Asante Kotoko started the season poorly, but are currently third on the league log after the first round.

Michael Revel In Victory

Defeat To All Stars Unfortunate - Osei

Michael Osei described Asante Kotoko’s loss in the penultimate game of the first round of the 2015-16 Ghana Premier League (GPL) to Wa All Stars as ‘unfortunate’.

Haven gone four games unbeaten with hundred away success under the tutelage of Osei, he never anticipated his team will succumb to a defeat at this early stages in his Kotoko career ad head coach away from home.

However, Enus Adepa’s men halted their unbeaten run courtesy of Richard Arthur’s first half sublime finish.

Kotoko by virtue missed the opportunity to go top of the table temporarily, whilst All Stars regained the top spot better goal difference haven lost the position to  Hearts who will Liberty Professionals later today.

“I think it was very unfortunate we conceded that early goal. I expected us to react quickly but things just didn’t go as planned,” Osei said in his post match press.

Kotoko’s final game of the first round will be at home when they host Techiman City who drew against Ashanti Gold at the Nana Ameyaw Park on Wednesday.

Osei focus is on the game to regain the points they lost at Wa.

“We would have to forget about this and look forward to the Techiman City game on Sunday.” he said.

The Porcupine Warriors dropped to 4th after the defeat and could drop further should Liberty beat Hearts of Oak.

Defeat To All Stars Unfortunate - Osei

Herbalife Presents Kits To Kotoko

Herbalife Ghana Limited, A Nutrition Company that sponsors Asante Kotoko, has presented training kits to the club.

Asante Kotoko and the company signed a two-year nutritional sponsorship deal last year to provide nutritional needs of the team.

However, they have extended their responsibilities to the Ghana Premier League (GPL) giants by providing them sets of training kits and other equipments.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Opoku Nti and interim coach Michael Osei received the items on behalf of the team at the Club’s secretariat in Kumasi on Saturday.

Herbalife Presents Kits To Kotoko

GPL Title Not Priority - Osei

Interim coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Michael Osei says winning the Ghana Premier League (GPL) is not his target.

Osei, after taking over from David Duncan, has recorded impressive wins for the Porcupine Warriors, notable among them being that over fierce rivals Hearts of Oak at the Accra Sports Stadium in Match-Day 10 action.

He accompanied that victory with a 3-0 thumping of Ebusua Dwarfs which saw veteran coach, Joseph E. Sarpong getting the boot from his employers.

But he is adamant of challenging for the league title.

“I am not thinking of winning the league right now. I just want the team to pick its good form. So for the league title, I have not thought of it at all. However, I am focusing on team building,” he said ahead of the game against Bechem United on Wednesday.

Prior to Michael Osei leading the technical affairs of the club, Kotoko were at the bottom of the league log, but they’ve since amassed 12 points in their last five matches and are currently fifth with 17 points from 11 games.

GPL Title Not Priority - Osei

Kotoko Name Squad For Super Clash

The technical heads of Kumasi Asante Kotoko have named a 19-man for Monday’s ‘Super Clash’ against Hearts of Oak.

The team is expected to arrive in Accra on Sunday morning.

Stand-in trainer, Michael Osei released the names of a 19 players after their final preparatory game against Division Two side Thunderbolt FC on Friday, which ended two-all.

Ofori Antwi has recovered from a hip injury, but was not named in the squad, while Osei Agyemang was also dropped due to a knee injury.

The 19-man squad comprise of two goalkeepers, seven defenders, seven midfielders and three strikers.

Asante Kotoko’s 19-man squad to battle Hearts clash on Monday.

Goalkeepers: Ernest Sowah, Felix Annan.

Defenders: Atta Kusi, Tuffuour Frimpong, Amos Frimpong, Emmanuel Asante, Henry Ohene Brenya, Ahmed Adams, Evans Quao.

Midfielder: Thephilous Nyame, Stephen Nyarko, Kojo Poku, Stephen Oduro, Bennet Ofori, Eric Donkor, Frank Sarfo Gyemfi.

Forwards: Dauda Mohammed, Kwame Boateng, Obed Owusu.

Kotoko Name Squad For Super Clash

Kotoko Assistant Coach Michael Osei Admits To Player Selection Headache

Kumasi Asante Kotoko Assistant Coach Michael Osei has admitted that the Club’s technical team is having selection headache following the abundance of quality talent at their disposal.

The ‘porcupine warriors’ earlier this month game their fans so much to cheer about, by winning the G-6 Invitational Tournament. They also managed to assemble a quality squad that played two international friendly matches in Libya, an action that has been considered as a very positive exercise ahead of the new season.

Last Sunday the Kotoko G-6 squad and the Kotoko Libya squad played an in-house friendly match and there was so much quality from both ends of the pitch.

In all Kotoko registered 29 players for the coming season, and the coaches’ choices have been made more difficult due to the fact that all of these players have justified their inclusion in the team.

“It is true that we may have difficulties in selecting players for games. We will have to do some serious thinking before we can come up with the first set.”

“But this situation tells us we have a strong team which is better than last season’s and can also do better than we did last year” Michael Osei told the Club’s official website.

He said that having competition at every position of the team would force the starters to do extra work to protect it and that can make the team very strong. He said the coaching staff would eventually settle on a first team but at the same time be blessed with an equal depth of quality behind them.

“Of course there will be reserve players but even with them, the situation now is that we would have absolute confidence in every player we introduce into the game. So I believe we will get a better team this year than we had last season”.

“The competition for places was blown open when two sides did well in their respective engagements in Libya and in Ghana. People thought the G-6 squad was the second string but they showed today that they are good, particularly in the first half”.

Kotoko Assistant Coach Michael Osei Admits To Player Selection Headache

Asante Kotoko Continue Flawless Preseason With 1-0 Win Over Elmina Sharks

Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s impressive preseason form continued after they beat Division One side Elmina Sharks 0-1 in a friendly game played at the Cape Coast park on Tuesday afternoon.

Halipha Sedogo’s 65th-minute strike was all Kotoko needed to break the Sharks from Elmina, sending the hundreds of fabulous fans into a jubilant mood at the Elmina Stadium.

Kotoko after enduring a fruitless first 45 minutes doubled their efforts upfront as Michael Osei replaced Adzeko Mandela with Halipha Sedogo in the 50th minute, who 15 minutes later grabbed the lone goal.

Kojo Poku was a pillar in midfield despite playing with a bandaged left hand and forehead. He combined beautifully to set up Michael Yeboah. The attacker was brutally brought down in the box by Enoch Abankrow but referee Emmanuel Aku Boateng to the surprise of all ignored the calls for a penalty as to him the foul was outside the box.

That infringement outside the box, instead of a penalty, nonetheless, turned into good omen for Kotoko when substitute Halipha Sedogo curled the ball straight into the net. The hosts could have equalised in the 87th minute but Ernest Sowah made two stupendous saves in quick succession to first deny Joseph Akowuah in a one-on-one situation and then Joseph Dabotoria from converting the rebound.

Assistant Coach Michael Osei made just three changes to the side which played in FirsTrust G-6 final against Aduana Stars on Sunday with goalkeeper, Ernest Sowah starting his first friendly match since joining the fabulous club.

The friendly match was organised by the Omanhene of Elmina, Nana Condua VI and Patron of the club owned by Ghanaian business mogul and politician Dr. Papa Kwasi Ndoum.

Asante Kotoko Continue Flawless Preseason With 1-0 Win Over Elmina Sharks