CORONATION MATCH ON SUNDAY: KOTOKO PLAY ASHGOLD ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The formal decoration of Asante Kotoko as Champions of 2012/13 Glo Premier League takes place this Sunday in Kumasi where the Porcupine Warriors will engage regional rivals Ashantigold in the Premier League Board (PLB)’s coronation match. Kotoko beat Amidaus Professionals 1-0 at Tema on the last day of the league competition to retain the title they won last season. The team was however not handed the trophy by the league body which has been organizing coronation matches to as they put it, “properly crown” the league champion. That proper crowning of the league champion will see supporters of Kotoko and Ashgold thronging the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to watch what should be a thrilling encounter. Though Asante Kotoko and Ashantigold’s pride will be at stake, the stakes will not be so high due to the friendly and entertaining atmosphere within which the match is likely to be played. Supporters of Kotoko have looked up to the coronation game weeks after the league competition ended because no date was set for the all-important crowning moment. Thus on a weekend where the local Black Stars were expected to play their counterparts from Benin in a CHAN 2014 qualifier; yet had it cancelled because the Benin team pulled out, the PLB found it appropriate to fix Sunday for the coronation game. The Kotoko Communication team and the PLB have since been engaging the media in a bid to promote the match to attract massive attendance. As already alluded to, the outcome of this match will not matter much to either Kotoko or Ashantigold and their supporters. But for Coach Mas-ud Didi Dramani and his technical assistants, Sunday’s game could offer them the chance to fine-tune preparation for the FA Cup final against Medeama in Accra on July 14. Thus even as the coaches relax or party in the coronation match, at their back of their minds will be determining or developing the strategy for a win against the Tarkwa based side in the prestigious MTN FA Cup competition. It is not clear which side Kotoko will parade against Ashantigold. It will however not come as a surprise should Coach Dramani put on display his best line-up ahead of the cup final. Kotoko players who were in the home based Black Stars camp have returned to Adako Jachie. They will thus be up for selection. They include Richard Mpong, Kwabena Adusei, Michael Akuffu and Rashid Sumaila. While Sunday will mark the first time some of these players and indeed, Coach Dramani and his deputy, Henry Wellington will be decorated with their maiden Premier League medal, it will be the third of such significant occasions for Kotoko’s most experienced goalkeepers – Isaac Amoako and Burkinabe, Soulama Abdoulaye. The two were part of the 2007/08 and 2011/12 squads that won the Premier League titles under Coaches Bashir Hayford and Maxwell Konadu respectively. Isaac Amoako and Soulama Abdoulaye have both been expressing their delight ahead of the momentous event. It is also worthy of note that Sunday will see Kotoko’s 5th Premier League title decoration and in total, an unprecedented 22 title wins since the league started in 1958. The rates for the match are GHȼ5 for the VIP stand and GHȼ2 for all other stands.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 12:23:48 +0000
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