Kotoko ready for bias officiating
Felix Annan, the goalkeeper of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, says his side is not dreading bias officiating against CARA Brazzaville in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round return leg on February 21.
Referee Issa Sy from Senegal awarded five penalties in the first encounter at the Baba Yara Stadium last Sunday – four of which went to Kotoko with three wasted.
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The referee also handed CARA a chance to take the lead from the spot but goalkeeper Chansel Massa, who had previously saved two Kotoko penalties, also saw his kick saved by Annan.
As the game headed for a barren draw, Referee Sy awarded the fifth spot-kick to Kotoko which was converted by substitute Yakubu Mohammed.
Speaking to the Graphic Sports yesterday, the 24-year-old shot stopper said the decisions taken by referee Sy were genuine, stressing that Kotoko were looking forward to a game devoid of any dreadful incident in Congo.
However, he indicated that the Porcupine Warriors were bracing for the possibility of unfair offficiating in Brazzaville.
“We don’t expect any bias officiating because if you were there on Sunday, you will realise that all the decisions taken by the referee were right.
We are going there with great mental strength because if you have that kind of mentality you can cope with any situation,” he said.
Touching on the team’s preparation, Annan said: “Our training sessions have changed and the spirit in camp is very high because everybody appears hungry to make amends for what happened on Sunday. Our confidence is still intact although our win was slim.”
“Coach Polack has told us that he has confidence in us and he believes that we can still qualify to the next stage despite what happened on Sunday,” he stated.
Responding to questions about his personal preparation should Kotoko encounter a similar experience in Congo, he said: “My preparation has always been the same and I make sure I give my 100 per cent anytime I wear the Kotoko jersey so I am going to do my best keep a clean sheet in Congo.”
“Personally, I am really confident because I believe that if we play like the way we did last Sunday we will surely qualify to the next stage of the competition.”
The shot-stopper, however, admitted that the task ahead was a daunting one, thus challenging his team mates to take the bull by the horn in Brazzaville.
“We are preparing very well because the task ahead is not an easy one although we have a goal in our basket. They have home advantage but we are poised to qualify, no matter what.”
Annan, who returned from injury last July, has grown in confidence as he contributed significantly to the success of the Porcupine Warriors last Sunday.
