Cobbina revels in MTN FA Cup award - But Adams cries foul
Accra Hearts of Oak’s playmaker, Winful Kwaku Cobbina, believes winning the flagship Most Valuable Player award at the 2016/2017 MTN FA Cup Awards at the M Plaza Hotel last Wednesday is a clear indication of high expectations regarding his performance in the upcoming season.
Cobbina beat stiff competition from Sadick Adams of Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Isaac Amoah of Amidaus Professionals to walk away with a double decker refrigerator and a memento at the impressive event which brought together many dignitaries, including the GFA President, Kwesi Nyantakyi.
“I am happy that I won but I know that this award will put a lot of pressure on me because people will be expecting to see an improvement in my performance,” Cobbina said.
“I took a bold decision to return to the local league to relaunch my career when I left Najran FC and I am happy that the decision has paid off but now I need to keep working hard to improve upon my performance,” an elated Cobbina told the Graphic Sports.
The talented midfielder rejoined Hearts last season after a short stint with Saudi Arabian side, Najran FC, and has since made a huge impact at the club, earning him a call-up to both the senior national team, Black Stars and the Stars B team.
About 20 personalities and five institutions were honoured on the night which saw Wa All Stars’ David Abagna mounting the podium to be decorated with The Most Promising Player of The Year award, while Isaac Amoah won the Goal of The Season prize.
Speaking at the event, both Mr Nyantakyi and Mr Kurt Edwin Simon Okraku, Chairman of the FA Cup Committee (FACC), expressed appreciation to headline sponsors, MTN, for their continuous support for the brand.
The night’s show, interlaced with musical performances by upcoming artistes: Oboo Asiamah and That Girl, attracted other personalities such as Robert Sarfo Mensah, Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) and his deputy, Majid Bawah, Guido Sopiimeh, acting Chief Marketing Officer of MTN, Mark Noonan, CEO of Heart of Oak, Eli Kondor of StarTimes and some executive committee members of the GFA.
Adams gripe
Kumasi Asante Kotoko striker, Sadick Adams, has expressed his disappointment for losing out on the MTN FA Cup’s Most Valuable Player accolade which went to his pal, Winful Cobbina of Hearts of Oak at the Awards ceremony held at the M-Plaza Hotel last Wednesday.
A visibly livid Adams argued that his five goals and two man-of-the-match awards should have earned him the prestigious award, in addition to the Top Scorer prize, hence his disappointment in the organisers of the event.
“To be frank I am disappointed and I am hurt that after all my performance in the competition which helped my club to win the trophy, they gave the award to someone else and sadly, they also shared the top scorer award for the two of us who were nominated,” he told the Graphic Sports shortly after the ceremony.
“I scored a hat-trick in the final game against Hearts of Oak and I also scored a goal during the semi-final, so giving the MVP award to someone else is painful and although I am not happy I will still congratulate Cobbina on winning it,” he added.
Touching on his absence from Kotoko since the beginning of the ongoing season, Adams said, “I was injured during our CAF Confederation Cup match against CARA of Brazzaville and our doctors asked me to stay away till I recover so I am waiting for the doctors’ decision before I resume.”
The ex-Atletico Madrid youth attacker expressed confidence in the current technical handlers of Kotoko, particularly Coach Paa Kwesi Fabin, to guide the Porcupine Warriors to win the league title this season.
“We have faith in Coach Fabin because he is an experienced coach and, as you already know, we are looking forward to winning both the league title and the FA Cup this season to make the Kotoko family happy and we know that we can achieve it but we are taking one game at a time.”
Adams emerged joint top scorer of the MTN FA Cup alongside Raphael Ocloo of Okyeman Planners.