Aidoo Anticipates Tough Test In Tunis

Medeama Sporting Club defender Paul Aidoo is anticipating a difficult game against Al Ittihad in their CAF Confederation Cup tie.

The Ghanaian side is in Tunisia to take on the Libyan side Al Ittihad in the first leg of the continent’s flagship inter-club football competition on Sunday.

Medeama SC, winners of Ghana’s MTN FA Cup last year, is the country’s only representative in Africa  after AshGold were bundled out of Champions League.

The Mauve and Yellows have a responsibility of flying high the flag of Ghana against Al Ittihad who thrashed Sonidep of Niger 4-1 in the preliminary phase of the competition at the Stade Municipal stadium in Sfax three weks ago.

And considering the result Medeama influential centre-back Paul Aidoo reckons the game won’t be a walk in the park.

“Make no mistake about it. It’s going to be tough. They are a good side and we must be wary, he told medeamaafmonline.com

“But we have been in such situation before and we managed to pull a win.

“We are confident about our chances. We have to be disciplined and keep to our game plan.

“If we do that, I’m positive we can grind out a positive result.”

The West Africans will be seeking for a favourable result to have an advantage in the return leg in a fortnight at the Essipong sports stadium.

Aidoo Anticipates Tough Test In Tunis

Medeama SC Ready To Make Ghana Proud - Parker

Owner and bank roller of Medeama Sporting Club, Moses Parker has promised Ghanaians his outfit is ready to do Ghana proud this weekend as they embark on yet another continental campaign.

The Tarkwa-based club is the only Ghanaian representative in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) inter-club competitions after AshGold were bundled out of the continent’s premier event, the Champions League early.

And Moses Armah Parker is optimistic they’re in good shape for the first leg of their second round CAF Confederation Cup  campaign on Sunday against Al Ittihad Tripoli of Libya.

“We are well prepared for this competition.  The last time we went to Morocco we did our best but this year, we are playing against Libyan opposition and we will make the most of this opportunity.

The game will be played in the Tunisian capital, Tunis and Mr. Parker said, “we consider the venue as a neutral ground for the match”.

“And we are sure of doing well in the competition,” Moses Parker said prior to the team’s journey to Tunisia for the game.

“We didn’t start the league early but we are in good shape after three games,” he assured.

Moses Parker also added that the club’s headline sponsor, GoldFields are backing them financially which will serve as a huge boost to their confidence in this competition.

“Our major headline sponsor GoldFields Ghana, are doing well for us, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is also supporting us,” he revealed.

Medeama SC will look to return to Ghana with a good result to make the return leg in Ghana a mear formality to book passage to the third round of the competition.

 

Medeama SC Ready To Make Ghana Proud - Parker

Kotoko - Ifeanyi FC Friendly Cancelled.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko pre-season friendly against Nigerian side, Ifeanyi FC has been called off.

The game which was scheduled to take place at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Wednesday at 5pm has been cancelled after both sides agreed to call it off.

The game was being organised by kit sponsors, Mafro has been cancelled as its arrangement with either parties hit rocks at the last minute.

The Porcupine Warriors last week cancelled their high profile friendly fixture against Medeama SC, but replaced them with Bechem United.

The friendly match against Bechem United was the club’s 11th pre-season game as they prepared for the new season which has been delayed by litigation.

Kotoko have recorded impressive performances accompanied with impressive wins in their 11 preparatory matches.

And in those 11 matches, three trophies has been won, boosting the confidence of fans of the club as they believe they can win the premier league and the FA Cup come of the end of this season.

And the game against Ifeanyi FC would have been am opportunity for the club to test their readiness for the league once more against an international opposition but it has been sent out of the window.

Ifeanyi FC suffered a 2-0 loss to Accra Hearts of Oak, Kotoko’s bitterest rivals at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday and many Kotoko faithfuls would have loved to have their team better the Phobians result to win the bragging rights.

However, the club will play Vision Football Club on Saturday.

Kotoko - Ifeanyi FC Friendly Cancelled.

Kotoko Target Return To Africa Next Year

The General Manager of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Opoku Nti has said that the target of the club is to return to the CAF inter-club football competitions, CAF Confederation Cup or CAF Champions League.

The Ghana Premier League record winners were dethroned for the premier league title by Ashanti Gold last season having won the title thrice on the bounce.

They also failed to defend the MTN FA Cup trophy they won the previous year, and have made many signings in the off season to win back both titles.

The board of the club has signed as many as eight new players to augment the squad. The squad was divided into two for to honour a GHALCA Six invitational tournament in Sekondi, and international club friendly against Al Ittihad in Libya.

Both teams showed quality in their games, as the G-6 squad, dubbed ‘team B’ won the tournament, whilst the other part of the squad in Libya lost and drew against the same opposition in the space of three days.

And Opoku Nti is certain that the quality of the players at their disposal makes them a title contender for the upcoming season as they target a place in next year’s Champions League.

“Asante Kotoko is ready for the season. Even if the league is starting next week, i can tell you we are fully prepared for it,” a happy Opoku Nti told Atinka FM after a friendly between the G-6 squad and the Libya ‘burgers’ on Sunday.

“We have to go Africa (next season). We have to go back to Africa. We have to announce our presence in Africa again; so the league title and the FA Cup are our target.

“I believe Kotoko have a strong team and the dream we had for this year is on course. The players we targeted to take into the new Premier League season and to give the coach more options were signed.” He added.

The former striker now General Manager of the club revealed that the board anticipated fixtures for the next season will come thick and fast that’s why they signed many people who can step up to the plate.

“The anticipated the trend of the league will be like what happened last season. We are likely to play twice a week and you’ll need a good depth in squad.

“A good team is a team with a very strong options. So i am very excited we’ve got a very good team capable of competing in all fronts.” He said.

Kotoko Target Return To Africa Next Year

Kotoko Divide Squad To Play Each Other

Kumasi Asante Kotoko has arranged a friendly match which will see the  First Trust invitational tournament, GHALCA Six winning team pit against the squad that travelled to Libya for a club friendly on Sunday.

Asante Kotoko divided their team into two with one travelling to Libya to honour a friendly match against Al Ittihad, whilst the other stayed in the country for the G-6 tournament in Sekondi.

Both teams showed quality in their games and the management has organised a match for them to display their potential against each other.

Assistant coach Michael Osei will be at the dugout for the G6 team whilst his boss David Duncan will coach the side that travelled to Tripoli.

G-6 Squad:

Eric Ofori Antwi, Ernest Sowah, Attah Kusi, Samuel Kyere, Joe Henry, Evans Quao, Ohene Brenya, Kwadwo Opoku, Benette Ofori, Stephen Nyarko, Elvis Amoh, Douglas Owusu Ansah, Michael Yeboah, Gyedu Reagan, Adzeko Mandela, Halipha Sedogo and Edwin Tuffour Frimpong.

Tripoli squad:

Felix Annan, Kaisan Yuisu, Ahmed Adams, Richard Agyemang, Manu Opoku Richmond, Amos Frimpong, Theophilus Nyame, Jackson Owusu, Amos Frimpong, Stephen Oduro, Akwasi Nti, Agyenim Boateng, Frank Sarfo Gyamfi, Obed Owusu, Dauda Mohammed and Eric Donkor.

The match will be played at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Kotoko Divide Squad To Play Each Other

Think Before You Talk - Ali Maradona Tells Hearts PRO

kumasi Asante kotoko deputy Operations Manager, Ali Maradona has told the of Accra Hearts of Oak, Opare Addo to think before talking  to the media.

Opare Addo alleged that the management of Asante Kotoko influenced Libyan Journalist Khalifa Rammani to paint a poor image of the club’s performance against Al Ittihad when they visited the Libyan capital for a pre-season friendly.

Accra Hearts of Oak suffered back to back defeats, conceding five goals and scoring only one.

Upon their return to Ghana, Kotoko travelled to the north African to play the same opposition and lost the first leg 2-1. But a Libyan Journalist, who watch both Ghanaian teams against the same opposition, was impressed with the latter’s output.

“I think the team who came from Ghana and played against Ahly don’t know how to play football, their balls are always up, they can’t pass three times, they can’t pass the ball they don’t know how to play football,” he said.

“I have watched Kotoko during training, they pass the ball very beautifully and very marvelous and they have a lot of quality players but the other team I swear to God they don’t know to play football.”

These observationsdid not go down well with Hearts of Oak and their PRO, Opare Addo claim Kotoko were behind those comments.

And the deputy operations manager of kumasi Asante kotoko, Ali Maradona popularly known as kotoko MP told him to think through his words before vomiting such nonsense.

“Sometimes we don’t want to focus on what they say, but Opare Addo should have thought before talking,” he told Vision One FM.

“During our stay in Libya we had no friends it was a typically football business, from training grounds to our hotel, it was purely football.” He added.

Asante Kotoko suffered a 2-1 defeat in the first encounter but recorded a stalemate in the reverse fixture.

 

 

Think Before You Talk - Ali Maradona Tells Hearts PRO

Pre-season Form Shows We Are Ready For GPL - Amos Frimpong

Kumasi Asante Kotoko skipper Amos Frimpong says if their pre-season form is anything to by, then he is optimistic Kotoko will have say as to where the league crown will end next season.

Asante Kotoko has won three trophies in the off season, the latest being the GHALCA Six invitational tournament in Sekondi.

In that competition, Kotoko divided their team into two, one for the tournament whilst the other emplained to Libya for inter-club friendly against Al Ittihad in Tripoli.

Dividing the team into two and competing very well at both ends clearly showed the work done to wrestle for the league crown they lost to Ashanti Gold last season by six points.

And captain Amos Frimpong believes the work input will yield edible fruits should they take to the field to battle for the league title.

“We have done a lot of work so far with encouraging results,” Amos Frimpong told the club official website, asantekotokosc.com.

“Based on that I can say we are ready for the new season. The players are anxiously waiting for the commencement of the league.” He revealed.

The Porcupine Warriors are the country’s record premier league winners with 23 titles, three better than their bitterest rivals, Accra Heart of  Oak.

Pre-season Form Shows We Are Ready For GPL - Amos Frimpong

Opoku Nti Confirm Clubs Circling Kotoko Players

General Manager of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Opoku Nti has not ruled out the club losing key players due to the financial status of the club.

The future of many key has been on the media front and Opoku Nti confirmed other clubs actually show interest in their players, but he can’t confirm whether they will let go those players to balance the books.

Ghana Premier League has been facing challenges to keep hold onto their star players due to financial constraints, and Opoku Nti admits it will be a herculean task to get hold on the players when juicy offers are placed before them.

“Football has been business today and if at least a club like Kotoko cannot pay players a monthly salary of $2000 then we have to understand that no player will be ready to stay in the country and play for the club,” Opoku Nti told Boss FM in Kumasi.

Players thirst for professionalism abroad has always been down to lack of money In the local front, and Opoku. With rumours surrounding Kotoko star names, Opoku Nti says he cannot decide individually whether those players will stay or leave.

“I alone can’t decide. It is true clubs have shown interest in our players, the transfer window closes soon so no deal can be made but maybe we might do business in the summer.”

Opoku Nti Confirm Clubs Circling Kotoko Players

Libyan Journalist Claim Kotoko Better Than Hearts

A Libyan Journalist Khalifa Rammani says Accra Hearts of Oak do not have a team with quality players compared to their bitter rivals, Asante Kotoko.

The ‘continental club masters’ were in Libya about four week ago for a club friendly against Libyan side Al Ittihad.

A Libyan journalist who watched the Phobians suffer back – to – back defeats at the hands of Ittihad claims the performance of the Phobians was too poor.

After Hearts of Oak poor show in Libya, another club in Libya Ittihad Tripoli invited the dethroned Ghana premier league champions for an international friendly which last Wednesday they beat the Ghanaian side 2-1.

However, top Libyan journalist Osman Latif Ali in assessing the performance of the two Ghanaian clubs said that Asante Kotoko is better than Hearts of Oak, stating that “the Phobians don’t know how to play football”

“I think the team who came from Ghana played against Ahly they don’t know how to play football, their balls are always up, they can’t pass three times, they can’t pass the ball they don’t know how to play football,” he said.

“I have watched Kotoko during training, they pass the ball very beautifully and very marvelous and they have a lot of quality players but the other team I swear to God they don’t know to play football.”

Libyan Journalist Claim Kotoko Better Than Hearts

Kotoko arrive in Libya for international three-club friendly tournament

Asante Kotoko have arrived in Tripoli to participate in a three-club invitational tournament involving Al Ittihad and Coton Sport de Garoua.

The Ghanaian giants left Accra on Saturday with a contingent of 16 players.

Some members of the technical and management made up the numbers into a 23-member delegation.

Kotoko had to split their squad into two to make the trip to Libya with the other half competing in the inaugural GHALCA G6 tournament.

David Duncan was part of Kotoko’s traveling party to Libya, resulting into his absence in Sekondi for the finals of the G6 tournament which Kotoko eventually won 1-0 with assistant Michael Osei on the bench.

Kotoko’s trip to Libya is on the invitation of Al Ittihad which will see Cameroonian club Coton Sport de Garoua also participating.

Kotoko arrive in Libya for international three-club friendly tournament