Kotoko Ready For Battle

The Porcupine Warriors, Kumasi Asante Kotoko arrived in the capital of Mozambique, Maputo on Friday, two clear days ahead of their crucial 2006 CAF Champions League match against Clube Ferroviaro de Maputo of Mozambique, via a South African Airways flight number SA 144 that touched down at the Aeroport Internacional de Maputo at exactly 13.00 hours GMT.

On arrival, the team was met and warmly received by some officials of Clube Ferroviaro and were conveyed in a typical Kaneshie-Odorkor trotro bus to their hotel, VIP Maputo Hotel in the heart of the city. I must however, hasten to add that the standard of the hotel that is housing the entire Asante Kotoko team can be compared to the likes of the Golden Tulip Hotel, Secaps Hotel and some other 3 or 4-star hotels in Ghana.

Just when the bus screeched to a halt at the front gate of the hotel, two significant prayers were offered by the players, one on a Christian line, and the other on a Muslim line, with Osei Kwame Jnr offering his in the former, and Yusif Alhassan Chibsah offering his in the latter.

The 25-man Asante Kotoko contingent comprises of 18 players and 7 officials who have vowed to put away the myriad of problems militating against the sound management and direction of the team in recent times, and rather concentrate on their quest for glory in Africa once again.

The players are:

2 goalkeepers – Mohammed Alhassan, Eric Nii Baah.

8 defenders – Aziz Ansah, Michael Ofosu Appiah,Godfred Yeboah, Osei Kwame Jnr, Daniel Acquah, Michael Asante, Sammy Addo.

4 midfielders – Yusif Alhassan Chibsah, Edmund Owusu Ansah, George Yamoah, Kwabena Dodzi.

4 strikers – Nana Arhin Duah, Frank Osei, Kwame Obeng Darko. Mark Adu Amofah.

The officials are Mr Awuah Nyamekye, representing the Board and the GFA as the Leader of Delegation, Edward Jarvis Kofi Peprah, Acting C.E.O., Emmanuel Kwasi Afranie, Head Coach, Kalilu Dramani, Asst Coach, Opoku Afiriyie, Team Manager, Augustine Omono Asamoah, Physiotherapist and David Kyei, a journalist from Asante Kotoko's mouth-piece, Kotoko Express.

Stay tuned in for more news on Asante Kotoko in Obimanso, Mozambique on Peace 104.3 FM and Space 87.7 FM in Ghana, and elsewhere on the internet at www.peacefmonline.com and www.ghanatoday.com.

You can also wish the team well or send your views and comments on the team to obimanso@hotmail.com.