A Strategic Member of Accra Hearts of Oak, Alhaji Brimah Akanbi says they could have humiliated Asante Kotoko had his outfit paraded a full-strength team in the GHALCA G6 semifinals win yesterday.

Hearts of Oak have failed to glitter in the off-season competition before their clash with their bitterest rivals Asante Kotoko following their below-par performances against Aduana Stars and Medeama SC in the first two matches, where they recorded just one point from a possible six.

Hearts of Oak went into the match without some of their key players, which sparked their supporters to fear for the worst against their sworn rivals, but the Accra-based giants exhibited an improved performance in their absence when defender Vincent Atinga gave them the lead through the spot-kick early in the second half before the Porcupine Warriors levelled the scores through Captain Amos Frimpong via the same spot kick. The game ended in a draw in regulation time, but the Phobians won 6-5 in the penalty shoot-outs to progress to their maiden G6 competition finals.

However, Alhaji Akanbi believes they could have embarrassed their rivals had they fielded all their top guns on the day.

“Kotoko should thank their stars that game went as far as they did because even when we’re missing six top players. Had the likes of Malik Akowuah, Bright Luqman, Robin Gnagne, Inusah Musah played, we could have mulled them by a bigger scoreline.

“They were no match for our boys at all because after all the hype about their rich vein of form before the game; they didn’t scare us.”

Hearts of Oak will meet Aduana Stars in the finals of the competition on Sunday.