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21.12.2007 League Report

Fantabulous Kotoko!

21.12.2007 LISTEN
By Daily Guide

KUMASI ASANTE Kotoko last Wednesday showed class when they annihilated Accra Great Olympics by 5-0 in their fifth week fixture of the Onetouch Premier League game played at their favourite refurbished Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

A hat-trick from tormentor-in-chief, Eric Bekoe and a goal each from Daniel Nii Adjei and Francis Akwafo was all the league leaders needed to maintain their hundred percent record in the Premiership.

Kotoko have so far bagged all the 15 points at stake in their first five matches of the league, scoring15 goals in the process without conceding any. This achievement has compelled pundits to ask the big question: Who can stop the Fabulous Boys?

The Porcupine Warriors, wearing their favourite red jersey and looking more purposeful on the day, scored in the fourth minute of the game when leading marksman, Eric Bekoe, after being set up by a team-mate, unleashed a left footer straight into the Olympics net.

Fighting like wounded lions, Kotoko piled incessant pressure on Oly and scored the second goal through Daniel Nii Adjei after being put through by mid-field marshal, Jordan Opoku in the 10th minute.

Oly's determination to come back into the game died down in the 24th minute when goal wizard, Eric Bekoe beat goalkeeper Ben Mensah in Oly's post to score after the goalie had failed to grab a fierce shot from Kotoko's right full-back, Samuel Inkoom.

On the stroke of the first-half, goalking aspirant, Eric Bekoe scored the first hat-trick of the season and Kotoko's fourth on the day when after running into empty space, he shot directly into the net.

Kotoko, who introduced back-to-batan duo, Stephen Oduro and Kwadwo Poku in the second-half, was merciless, and this was manifest when Francis Akwafo's thunderbolt of a shot zoomed into the Oly net after hitting the cross bar in the 75th minute.

An attempt by Oly to score a face-saving goal failed as Kotoko's agile Burkinabe goalkeeper, Solama Abdulai saved Emmanuel Clottey's goal-bound shot from a spot-kick in the 83rd minute.

Briefing the press after the game, an elated Kotoko Coach, Bashiru Hayford commended his boys for playing to his instructions and promised that the best of Kotoko was yet to come.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kwame Baah Nuako, Kotoko's Communications Director has announced that the team has successfully registered Baba Adamu Armando for the Premiership, noting that the player could feature in Kotoko's next game against AshGold FC this Sunday.

And Pierre Toto in Accra reports that match-day-six of the on-going Onetouch Premier League continues tomorrow and on Sunday at all centers with interesting encounters.

The current league leaders, Kumasi Asante Kotoko who have proven so far to be a free-scoring club since the beginning of the championship, will trek to a neutral ground at Cape Coast to play struggling Ashgold tomorrow.

Kotoko, who started the Onetouch Premier League with a lot of determination, have beaten all their opponents in five games, with their player, Eric Bekoe leading the goal-king chart.

Wa All Stars travel to El-Wak on Saturday, after defeating All Blacks, to play Tema-based Sportive.

Accra Hearts of Oak, one the league favorites, who will travel to Kumasi for the first time this season to play one of the new entrants, Kessben F/C at the Abrankese Park on Sunday, were compelled to bring back Harry Zakkour to help revive the 'Phobian Spirit'.

At Sunyani on Sunday, King Faisal will welcome Berekum Arsenals who won their last game at home, while Liberty Professionals will be at home against second-placed Heart of Lions.

Great Olympics play host to Zaytuna United at the El-Wak Stadium on Sunday with a mission to win and bring back the spirit of the team, which has always being described as “Wonder Club”.

At Cape Coast on Sunday, Hasmal have to conjure magic to stop Abdul Razak's RTU who are on rampage, while All-Blacks will make sure that they collect the three points at stake when they come face-to-face with visiting Tema Youth at Swedru on Sunday.

From Fred J. A. Ibrahim Jnr., Kumasi

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