Mixed reaction from RTU /Kotoko coaches

Accra, Oct 6, GNA - Coaches of Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Real Tamale United (RTU) have expressed mixed reaction on how their respective teams fared in the grand finale of the Ghana League Clubs Association's (GHALCA) Knockout Championship played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday.

Whilst victorious coach Mumuni Gamel remained modest and attributed his side's victory to hard work and a well-rehearsed strategy, Asante Kotoko's Hans Dieter Schmidt believed luck did not smile on the defending league champions who conceded a late goal to end their ambition of annexing the ultimate.

Coach Gamel told the GNA Sports in a post match interview that, "Our strategy was not to concede an early goal and to operate on the break at the later stages which worked to perfection. Having studied the first game so closely, we knew beating Kotoko was always going to be easy on a good day like this".

He explained that the team decided to play a compact game and rather risk introducing more attackers in the later part in search for what he described as the deserving and crucial home goal and that snatched the cup from the jaws of the Porcupine Warriors.

Coach Gamel who just returned from a six-week coaching course in Germany paid tribute to the experience he acquired during the course. "I learnt what an in-depth teamwork can do for any team and it was part of the strategy we showcased today that worked to perfection", he said.

The coach sounded the alarm bells by calling on all clubs to watch out for the "Pride of the North" in the league and beyond, adding that "We are determined to turn things around, and I want to caution everyone to watch out for us".

The German, Schmidt was however convinced that but for luck, his opponents would have been laughing at the wrong side of their mouths at the end of the proceedings.

"We could have easily won this game but our strikers let us down. It obviously wasn't to be as we dictated the pace of the game all through".

The coach however relished the need for his players to recover on time for their crucial Confederations Cup tie billed against Petrol Athletico of Angola next weekend.

"It is unfortunate that we had to lose at this time but it is imperative that we don't stay like this for the sake of the task ahead. What I would want my boys to understand is that such things happen in football and it is for them to move on in earnest".

He played down on suggestions that the absence of influential players like Charles Taylor and injured William Teiro affected the team. "Teiro is not important to our team. Not a player who lacks discipline to train with his club but is always seen in the national camp. And Taylor, no, we didn't miss him but we missed Chibsah a lot".

RTU's Gafaru Abdallah scored a late goal to win the cup on an away rule haven lost the first leg 2-1 in Kumasi a month ago.