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.
Inter Allies and Asante Kotoko shared spoils when they met at the Tema sports stadium on match week 18 of the 2015-16 Ghana Premier League (GPL).
Bennett Ofori pounced on a howler from Osei Kwame to open the scoring for Asante Kotoko less than quarter an hour into the game, but Frederick Yamoah’s sumptuous strike from 25 yards six minutes into the department drew parity for the Eleven Is To One, and that was that.
Both teams had contrasting results in the previous games prior to this fixture; Inter Allies lost at the Golden City to Berekum Chelsea whilst Asante Kotoko piped league leaders Wa All Stars at the Baba Yara sports stadium.
Image credit: Awusi Adadevoh
With the former losing away from home on week 17, they began on the front foot to redeem themselves, not only for the previous, but the reverse fixture which ended in favour of the Porcupine Warriors.
Early chances were created by returnee Frederick Yamoah and Abdul Halik Hudu, but Frederick Boateng and Sheriff Deo Mohammed attempts at the end of the opportunities were harmless. However, when got their grips on the ball and attacked from the right flank with Amos Frimpong, he found Frank Sarfo Gyamfi, who powered in a ferocious shot.
Image credit: Awusi Adadevoh
Osei Kwame fumbled to get the ball control on his first attempt, before mistakenly heading the ball with his occiput into his goal mouth, and the on rushing Bennett Ofori thumped into an empty net.
Several other chances followed, but the woodwork denied the record premier league champions a second goal.
At the other end, Inter Allies had two quick chances, but Ernest Sowah parried the shot from Gockel Ahortor’s to corner. The eventual corner found the forehead of Wahab Akwei, but he directed the ball to the crossbar. And Kotoko led by a lone goal in the first half.
Inter Allies came out of their blocks in the second an tormented Kotoko. Their early dominance paid dividends as Frederick Yamoah scored a cracker to after 51 minutes.
They continued to dictate the pace of the game with the goal scorer being a nemesis every time had the ball. Kotoko adopted the strategy of ballooning the ball, and held on to earn point.
The National Sports Authority (NSA), Security Coordinator, Michael Smart Abbey has told officials who will oversee affairs on the pitch in the game involving Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko that security is dependent on officiating decisions of referees.
The game is expected to attract over 38,000 spectators to the Accra Sports Stadium, and security arrangements have been put in place to ensure sanity, before, during and after the game.
The Premier League Board and the referees selection committee is yet to appoint match officials for Ghana’s ‘El-Classico’, but the security expert is warning the men who will be mandated to lead the two teams to the turf.
“The referees association should help in orienting their members. They need to understand that security starts from officiating and so when they go there to do their work they should do it diligently with decorum.
“With the belief that I am doing this work to save the lives of people,” Mr. Abbey told Accra Starr FM.
The match will be the 103rd league fixture between the two most glamorous clubs in the history of Ghana football.
