GHALCA 8: Kotoko coach sure of win
Kumasi Asante Kotoko head coach, Steve Polack, has fired a salvo ahead of this afternoon’s GHALCA-organised G8 tournament semi-final game against sworn-rivals Accra Hearts of Oak, saying his side would end the Phobians’ dominance in clashes involving the two sides at the Baba Yara Stadium
Sounding confident in a telephone interview with the Graphic sports, Coach Polack noted that he would ensure that Kotoko win at home today to make it to the final of the season-opening competition.
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“The records are there but records are made to be broken and since I took over as the head coach of Kotoko, I have never lost to Hearts of Oak in Kumasi so I won’t let them win against me in this competition.”
“We will do whatever it takes to get to the final. This is a new game so we will approach it with a positive mental attitude and God willing we will win,” he promised.
However, Kotoko captain Amos Frimpong has sounded a note of caution to his teammates not to underrate their opponents because of the absence of some key players of Hearts, especially as clashes involving the two sides are always difficult to predict.
The right-back told the Graphic Sports yesterday that squad depth were hardly a major consideration but rather which side was mentally and physically conditioned for Ghana’s version of ‘El Clasico’, especially in Kumasi.
"Matches between Kotoko and Hearts have always been difficult to predict and today's match won't be an exception. We are ready to give them a good game and we know it will be very tough," Frimpong said.
The Porcupine Warriors defeated Aduana Stars 2-0 in the last Group A game to top the standings with six points to set a date with their archrivals who finished second behind Medeama in Group B.
Polack will be leading Kotoko to face the Phobians for the sixth time in the last 12 months and he is exuding confidence that his players will get the job done as expected, just as they did in their victory over Aduana last Sunday in Kumasi.
“I was happy with the performance last Sunday. Although it is a pre-season game, they want to win just like any other team so I was content with their performance and I am sure they will deliver again.”
“My players have different attributes but I can say that they are working together and they are flowing with each other. I can’t predict the season but I can say that we are all going to be happy at the end of it all.”
Kotoko’s forwards will have to find a way around Hearts’ defensive pillar and captain, Inusah Musa, who says his teammates are ready to deliver the ‘coup de grace’ in Kotoko’s own backyard.
“We are determined for the victory in this particular game against Kotoko because we have new players in camp who are performing exceptionally well since they joined the team and currently morale in camp is very high so we are confident of winning tomorrow,” Musa told the Graphic Sports yesterday.
Hearts, who placed second with six points, qualified together with Medeama Sporting Club, who topped Group B table with seven points.
Tomorrow at the Cape Coast Stadium, Tarkwa-based Medeama will take on Dreams FC for a ticket to the final where the winner is guaranteed GH¢10,000 and GH¢5,000 for the runner-up, with each participant entitled to GH¢20,000 as appearance fee.