Kotoko eye double over Ashgold

Kotoko skipper Amos Frimpong says his teammates are poised to face regional opponents AshantiGold with a winning mentality when the two sides clash in a returning friendly at Obuasi tomorrow in spite of the absence of a substantive head coach.

Kotoko are without a head coach following the resignation last week of Paa Kwesi Fabin for “personal reasons”, with Assistant Coach Raphael Akakpo Patron taking charge of the team.

However, the Kotoko captain says Fabin’s exit has not had any adverse effect on their preparation for tomorrow’s clash at the Len Clay Stadium.

“All is well and the assistant coach, Akakpo Patron, is doing well.

We are ready for the game and we are enjoying the hard work we are going through,” Frimpong told the Daily Graphic on telephone yesterday.

The Porcupine Warriors defeated Ashgold 3-2 at the Baba Yara Stadium two weeks ago in a two-tie friendly and are scheduled to meet in the return leg tomorrow.

Frimpong says morale in camp remains high with the players and officials focused on tomorrow’s game, and maintains that Fabin’s departure will have little effect on their performance.

“We are training very hard and that has won us our last three matches; we are unfazed by problems in our coaching department,” he added.

Kotoko will be led in attack by their in-form Burkinabe striker Sogne Yacouba, who scored a brace in the first leg encounter and will be supported by teammates Frimpong, Felix Annan, Abbas Mohammed and Owusu Jackson.

Ashgold, on the other hand, will be led in attack by former Kotoko stars Saddick Adams, Eric Donkor and Richard Osei Agyemang who will be seeking their pound of flesh and bragging rights on home soil, a ground where they beat Kotoko 2-0 in the first round of the Ghana Premier League five months ago.