Kolo Debunks Rumours

COTE D'IVOIRE'S dependable defender, Kolo Toure has denied speculations that he was unfit during the Elephants semifinal match against the Pharaohs of Egypt at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi in the just-ended 26th MTN Africa Cup of Nations.

In the said match, the Pharaohs stunned soccer connoisseurs by handing the Elephants a humiliating 4-1 defeat.

Immediately after the game Toure who had a bad day was accused by a section of the media of being unfit for the match and that his presence in the match caused his side the painful defeat.

But speaking exclusively to DAILY GUIDE SPORTS at the teams Georgia Hotel base in Kumasi, Toure stated: “I was hundred percent fit for the game and I gave all that I had during the game.
It was unfortunate that we could not carry the day”.

He noted that he was very patriotic and loved his country so much; therefore he would never represent his country half fit at the detriment of equally good players who were on the bench to cause the downfall of his team.

Toure who plays for Arsenal in the English Premiership stated that the entire Cote D'Ivoire team gave their all during the game and that they lost to a better side, adding that nobody should point accusing fingers at him.

“Before the game we were aware of the pedigree of the Egyptians when it comes to this tournament, but to be honest with you their performance on the day beats our imagination. The Egyptians were brilliant and they deserve the win”.

Toure denied also that complacency on their part caused the humiliating defeat, saying: “We are all professionals and we went into the game with determination to win but we lost to a better side”.

From Fred J A Ibrahim Jnr., Kumasi