Kotoko and Liberty Vie For President Cup

CAF Confederation Cup campaigners, Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Liberty Professionals go head to head tomorrow in a special Republic Day Anniversary match dubbed the President?s Cup.

The match which has been an annual affair for some time now has a trophy donated by His Excellency John Agyekum Kuffour, President of the Republic of Ghana at stake and will have the trappings of a proper cup final.

Kotoko and Liberty Professionals have had a father and son affair in recent past with the Kumasi lads proving superior over the Dansoman-based scientific soccer lads in two matches played this season during the Ghalca Top Four tournament.

Tomorrow?s match is another Ghalca initiative and though Accra Hearts of Oak are defending champions, Kotoko and Liberty have been paired to play this year?s match following purported foot-dragging from the camp of Kotoko?s archrivals.

Liberty has proven on countless occasions their ability to overcome the toughest opposition at anytime and at any venue as they proved against Stade Tunisien some four weeks ago but against Kumasi Asante Kotoko they have a lot of hard work to do.

Kotoko would no doubt be buoyed by their dominance over Liberty recently and certainly have the materials to repeat such performance.

Having well rested after the tough start to the season and the shock exit from the Champions League, Kotoko have also had time to assimilate the tactics of new coach Hans-Dieter Schmidt and will be looking to using the Dansoman lads as target practice.

The likes of Charles Taylor, Shilla Alhassan, Nana Arhin Duah, Michael Osei and Frank Osei are but just a few of the attacking options available to Schmidt and Liberty would have to be on the look out if they are to have any hopes of receiving the trophy from President Kuffour at the end of 90 minutes.

Liberty are further handicapped by the absence of their head coach, Selas Tetteh who is on national assignment but with players like exciting Michael Helegbe, Mustapha Essuman, Issifu Ansah, Felix Baffoe and David Boateng Liberty can be robust and stubborn.

Kotoko however do have the edge in spite of the absence of a few of their players who are in the Stars camp simply because their technical build-up and options as far as talent is concerned far outweighs Liberty?s. A win for Liberty will be a major upset, especially on a day when the thousands of Kotoko faithful in the metropolis will take advantage of the holiday to throng the stadium in their numbers.

Koforidua based referee William K. Agbovi will referee the match with Justice Yeboah of Nsawam and Innocentia Agbavitor of Ho assisting him on the lines. John Atikese would be the fourth referee for the day with Ghalca Administrative Manager, Kudjoe Fianoo taking the role of match commissioner.

Ghalca Eleven will play Ghana Actors Guild Eleven in a curtain raiser.