Showing posts with label Kotoko v Medeama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kotoko v Medeama. Show all posts

Wednesday, 9 March 2016

Tom Strand Unsure Of His Future

The Head Coach of Medeama Sporting Club, Tom Strand says he is unsure of his future with the club.


Strand’s duties were questioned on Sunday afternoon during the Mauve and Yellows two-all stalemate against Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.


It is alleged the former Bechem United boss was prevented from making an intended substitutions in the second half against the Porcupine Warriors and the Swede believes there was interference in job.


Speaking about his future with Kumasi-based Kapital FM, the 35-year-old said: “I don’t know 100% so it will be difficult to tell you.


“Everything for now is based on speculation. I will be giving the whole fact at the right time. We will all know the truth.” He said.


The Technical Director Evans Adotey took over touchline responsibilities in their game against Kotoko, and it is believed management of Medeama  are creating an uncertainty around the future of Strand.


“We are handling the situation and we will see what will happen if I will still be at Medeama or something else would happen but only time will tell, though we can’t  speculate but right now I don’t want to think about it. We will all know in a couple of days.” Strand stated.


Tom Strand declined to answer questions on whether he will be the man at the dugout when Medeama visit Al Ittihad of Libya on Sunday for the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup  match.


Tom Strand joined Medeama in the 2014/15 GPL season and led them to win the MTN FA Cup, beating Asante Kotoko in the final.




Tom Strand Unsure Of His Future

Sunday, 6 March 2016

GFA Could Sanction Kotoko For Referee"s "Assault"

The Ghana Football Association and the Premier League Board could sanction Kumasi Asante Kotoko after it emerged that match day referee Prosper Adii was assaulted on his way to the dressing room.


 


It is alleged that the Bolgatanga-based referee was ‘threatened’ on his way to the dressing room after ending the first half at the Baba Yara sports stadium.


It is unclear whether supporters or players of Kotoko threatened the 31-year-old which forced him not to return for the second half as he was replaced by Emmanuel Ansah who had been assigned as the fourth official for the weekend’s top-fixture.


 


The Referee Appointment Committee (RAC) on Thursday appointed Emmanuel Dally Dagba as the centre official, but a swift change saw Prosper replacing Mr. Dagba.


 


Emmanuel Ansah handled the second half of the match and it ended 2-all at the Baba Yara sports stadium.


 


And should the match official capture the alleged assault in his report, Kotoko could be in for early season trouble.




GFA Could Sanction Kotoko For Referee"s "Assault"

Kotoko-Medeama Share Spoils

A heart-pumping 90 minutes of beautiful football coupled with super goals ended in a 2-all stalemate at the Baba Yara sports stadium when Kumasi Asante Kotoko hosted Medeama SC on Match Week of the Ghana Premier league.


Neither side had a point prior to the match and they fought gallantly and deserved to share points on the plate.


Bennett Ofori and Michael Yeboah’s strikes were cancelled by Malik Akowuah and Bismarck Oppong to earn both sides a point apiece.


Medeama SC started the game on the front foot to exorcise the early season ghost which has haunted them from day one and ensured they lost two matches on the thrott to Ashanti Gold and Hearts of Oak at the Obuasi Len Clay stadium and Tarkwa T&A park respectively.


The alacrity with which the began the game provided an early opening for Malik Akowuah to strike ferocious shot on target. Ofori Antwi fumbled woth the first shot, but gathered with aplomb on his second attempt to bring the ball under control.


Almost packed Baba Yara sports for Kotoko v Medeama.

Almost packed Baba Yara sports for Kotoko v Medeama (image by: Ghana Premier League Live)


Kotoko took control proceedings from there, and dictated the pace of the game, asking Tom Strand and his boys numerous questions. A beautiful interplay between Bennett Ofori and Obed Owusu sent the latter one-on-one with Muntari Tagoe in Medeama’s post, but his first touch failed him as the goalkeeper gathered with ease.


Kotoko’s hard work paid dividends on the 20th minute, when a defensive blunder allowed Bennett Ofori, who has been a nemesis all afternoon to find the back of the net, walking the ball through.


The game became a midfield battle as Medeama brought the arsenals in them to fight out to avoid a third successive defeat.


Theophilus Nyame brought down Kwaku Donsu at the edge of the box. Malik Akowuah took responsibility and scored a stunner, silencing the fully packed Baba Yara sports stadium spectators.  The game from there on looked even, and first half ended with no advantage to either side.


After recess, Kotoko piled more men forward and fought hard for every 50-50 ball. Eric Donkor went close to regain the lead for the Porcupine Warriors, but he missed the net by inches.


A minute later, Michael Yeboah grabbed the headlines. His deflected shot on the 52nd minute found its way Into the net, beating Muntari Tagoe completely.


Medeama SC responded to the second set back, firing from all cylinders to get a point. Bismarck Oppong ensured the traveling supporters were not disappointed with the leveller on the 74th minute.


Medeama looked the better side to amass all points but they were profligate in front of goal. Kotoko also had Ofori Antwi to thank as the former the U-20 goalkeeper pulled of word class save from close range to claim the record premier league champions a point.


A heart-pumping 90 minutes of beautiful football coupled with super goals ended in a 2-all stalemate at the Baba Yara sports stadium when Kumasi Asante Kotoko hosted Medeama SC on Match Week of the Ghana Premier league.


Neither side had a point prior to the match and they fought gallantly and deserved to share points on the plate.


Bennett Ofori and Michael Yeboah’s strikes were cancelled by Malik Akowuah’s stunner and Bismarck Idan beauty.


Medeama SC started the game on the front foot to exorcise the early season ghost which has haunted them from day one and ensured they lost two matches on the thrott to Ashanti Gold and Hearts of Oak at the Obuasi Len Clay stadium and Tarkwa T&A park respectively.


The alacrity with which the began the game provided an early opening for Malik Akowuah to strike ferocious shot on target. Ofori Antwi fumbled woth the first shot, but gathered with aplomb on his second attempt to bring the ball under control.


Kotoko took control proceedings from there, and dictated the pace of the game, asking Tom Strand and his boys numerous questions. A beautiful interplay between Bennett Ofori and Obed Owusu sent the latter one-on-one with Muntari Tagoe in Medeama’s post, but his first touch failed him as the goalkeeper gathered with ease.


Kotoko’s hard work paid dividends on the 20th minute, when a defensive blunder allowed Bennett Ofori, who has been a nemesis all afternoon to find the back of the net, walking the ball through.


The game became a midfield battle as Medeama brought the arsenals in them to fight out to avoid a third successive defeat.


Theophilus Nyame brought down Kwaku Donsu at the edge of the box. Malik Akowuah took responsibility and scored a stunner, silencing the fully packed Baba Yara sports stadium spectators.  The game from there on looked even, and first half ended with no advantage to either side.


After recess, Kotoko piled more men forward and fought hard for every 50-50 ball. Eric Donkor went close to regain the lead for the Porcupine Warriors, but he missed the net by inches.


A minute later, Michael Yeboah grabbed the headlines. His deflected shot on the 52nd minute found its way into the net, beating Muntari Tagoe completely.


Medeama SC responded to the second set back, firing from all cylinders to get a point. Bismarck Oppong ensured the traveling supporters were not disappointed with the leveller on the 74th minute.


The Mauve and Yellows looked the better side to amass all points in the dying embers of the game but they were profligate in front of goal. Kotoko also had Ofori Antwi to thank as the former the U-20 goalkeeper pulled of word class save from close range to claim the record premier league champions a point.




Kotoko-Medeama Share Spoils

Saturday, 5 March 2016

I Am Used To Pressure - Duncan

David Duncan, head coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko is adamant he can only conjecture what is meant by pressure.


Asante Kotoko lost their opening 2015/16 Ghana Premier League fixture against West Africa Football Academy in Sogakope, courtesy of Charles Boateng and Samuel Tetteh’s goals.


And with huge expectations hovering around the team to wrestle back the Premier League trophy they lost to Ashanti Gold last season, Duncan must start winning games now.


But the former Hearts of Oak boss has downplayed the pressure on him and his team to meet expectations.


“In football, when we talk about pressure, you have got to be specific but I can conjecture what people mean by pressure in the sense that, I can hazard a few words as it were to describe their concerns; are they talking about being anxious, are they talking about we being edgy or nervy,” Duncan said in a pre-match press conference.







Duncan continued: “And under the circumstances that other clubs have won the matches but I have always maintained even off-season when there’s not supposed to be any competition, a coach will definitely be under pressure because at every turn of the profession, there’s some work to be done.


“If it’s the off-season, you are talking about recruitment; if it’s in the season, you’re talking about upcoming game so as a coach, you leave your daily lives under it so we are used to it”, he said.


Duncan will be boosted by the return of six key players who were ruled of the opening day loss to WAFA.




I Am Used To Pressure - Duncan