Hearts, Kotoko in grudge match
Pride will be at stake tomorrow when old rivalry is renewed by Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko clash at the Tamale Sports Stadium in the MTN FA Cup final.
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The match is expected to be as riveting as previous clashes between the two arch-rivals who have old scores to settle, including the disputed 1990 FA Cup final which has still not been settled after Kotoko won the match but still lost the trophy on technical grounds.
Almost three decades on, that unresolved FA Cup final which Kotoko won 4-2 but lost the trophy to Hearts who won a protest over Kotoko’s fielding of an unqualified player, Joe Debrah, is likely to play up in tomorrow’s game as the two sides have since not clashed in the FA Cup final. And it will be the first time that the two sides will clash in a competitive match in Tamale.
Ahead of tomorrow’s game, the rival coaches are both confident they would win the country’s second most significant domestic trophy. Hearts’ Scottish coach, Frank Nuttall, said at a press conference last Wednesday that his players were physically, technically and mentally ready for the battle.
“I have a very resolute group, very motivated and very focused and they will be victorious on Sunday,” he said.
Similarly, Kotoko’s British trainer, Steve Polack, is eyeing his first major trophy in Ghana and promised to deliver the trophy for the Porcupine Warriors.
“I am a very positive person and I have always been positive on everything I do no matter the odds, and Sunday will be just one of those days,” Polack said in Kumasi.
Both Hearts and Kotoko missed out on the Premier League title and the MTN FA Cup would be a fitting compensation for them, but it would take more than the technical guidance of the two expatriate coaches to ensure victory for either side.
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Having clashed four times already, twice in the league and the two-leg Ghana@60 Cup, the MTN FA Cup should settle all arguments among the rival sides – the Phobians beat Kotoko 1-0 in Accra and drew 1-1 in Kumasi in the league but lost the Ghana@60 Cup on penalties.
The two sides are in fine form lately and look evenly matched, with the Phobians coming into the match with a very fluid attack spearheaded by Thomas Abbey, Patrick Razak and Kwame Kizito. Kotoko too have a sharp attack and will look up to Sadick Adams and Yakubu Mohammed for the goals while Felix Annan and captain Amos Frimpong handle affairs in defence. However, it would be the side with stronger character and mental toughness that looks poised to carry the day and earn the bragging rights, giant trophy and GH¢ 50,000 prize money at stake.