Ashgold, All Stars For Otumfuo Cup Final

Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II

Bookmakers' prediction of a Kotoko-Hearts final at the ongoing Otumfuo Charity Cup failed to materialise as the two clubs failed to progress beyond the semi-final stage at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

Ashgold gave Hearts a 3-1 thrashing last Friday, while Wa All Stars accounted for Kotoko 4-2 on penalties. Ashgold took a commanding 3-0 lead before Hearts got a consolation.

The ever-vociferous phobian fans set the stadium agog by giving a deafening ovation to the arrival of players of Hearts onto the tartan tracks to warm up even before the game between All Stars and Kotoko could end.

Parading a virtually new set of players under the coaching instructions of two former players of Hearts, Jacob Nettey and Charles Allotey, the phobians sorely missed the services of their new coach, Paa Kwesi Fabin, and some of their well-established players.

But clearly the scoreline was something many Hearts fans least expected.

Kotoko, on the other hand, under the tutelage of back-to-batan Coach Ebo Mends, failed to impress as the physical conditioning of the players looked suspect, and their ball control, as well as inter-positional play was not what the fans who thronged the stadium expected.

Kotoko had themselves to blame after missing as many as six clear goal-scoring opportunities in the second half of the game which they clearly dominated.

The fans who thronged the stadium to see what was in store for their pet club in the upcoming Glo Premier League were disappointed that the perennial goal-scoring problem had not been solved even though the league kicks off on Sunday.

On the day the Kotoko strikers failed to threaten the goal area of the visitors much to the disappointment of their teeming supporters.

It was rather the visiting team which dictated the pace despite their inability to translate their superiority into goals. Nevertheless, Kotoko sold a classic game to football fans who could not help but applaud the quality of play exhibited by the Fabulous boys.

Kotoko lifted their game after some pep-talks from Coach Ebo Mends in the dressing room and created some chances but missed them all.

All Stars created two decent chances in the second half, but they also failed to utilised them.

It was therefore not surprising when the centre referee, Mr G.K. Manu brought proceedings to an end without any ball entering the net of either side.

During the penalty shootout, Kotoko’s Jordan Opoku and Stephen Oduro missed their kicks, while Wa All Stars’ Richard Akrofi also missed.

On their way to the final, Ashgold defeated Bechem Chelsea 5-3 on penalties, while Wa All Stars accounted for Kumasi King Faisal 1-0 at the preliminary stage.

In the semi-finals, Hearts and Kotoko, both of whom drew a bye, could not withstand the might of Ashgold and Wa All Stars respectively.