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Sports News of Thursday, 14 December 2017

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Kotoko targets Money Zone of CAF Confederations Cup

Team Manager of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Godwin Ablordey play videoTeam Manager of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Godwin Ablordey

The Team Manager of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Godwin Ablordey says the Porcupine Warriors have set their sights on reaching at least the Money Zone of next year’s CAF Confederations Cup.

Kotoko are gearing up to participate in Africa’s second tier club competition, after emerging champions of the 2017 MTN FA Cup. Kotoko beat their arch-rivals Hearts of Oak 3-1 in Tamale to put some gloss on a campaign that was less than impressive and saw them finishing outside the Top Four on the Ghana Premier League table.

Kotoko will represent Ghana in the Confederations Cup by virtue of the FA Cup triumph and their team manager, Godwin Ablordey, who was a former captain of the club, is hopeful the team can make an impact in the competition.

“We are not going to promise anybody that we are going to lift the Confederations Cup trophy but we are going to make sure that we do our best. If for nothing at all, we will make sure that we reach the Group stages or
Money Zone of the competition. Doing well will depend on us the coaches and the other managers. We have to train our boys well and make sure we give them whatever they want to succeed. We also need a very good pre-season if we are going to make an impact,” Abordey said in an interview with the media.

Meanwhile, Asante Kotoko has presented the 2017 FA Cup and Presidential Cup trophies they won to their headline sponsors, MTN Ghana.

This was to show appreciation to the telecommunication giants MTN Ghana, for sponsoring and supporting the club for all these years.

The presentation, held at the MTN Ghana Head Office at Ridge, Accra, on Monday, was attended by Mr. Thomas Boakye Agyeman, Accra Representative of Kotoko, Mr. Godwin Ablordey – team manager, deputy captain Eric Donkor, and two other players; Jackson Owusu and Ahmed Adams.

The 2017 MTN FA Cup saw 112 clubs participating from the lower tier and the elite division, where Kotoko defeated arch rivals Accra Hearts of Oak 3-1 in the finals at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium, Tamale.

The Chairman of the MTN FA Cup Committee, Kurt Okraku on behalf of the Ghana Football Association thanked the telecommunication giants for sponsoring the cup competition, adding that the 2017 FA Cup final between Kotoko and Hearts of Oak this year was the best final in recent memory.

“We are happy to be part of MTN knowing that, they have kept faith with the competition for years and we believe they will continue sponsoring the competition for a longer period”.

Mr. Boakye Agyeman stated that, though Kotoko encountered a tough season, following their fatal motor accident, they marched on to finish the season with trophy.

He said “we believe in our players and the technical team led by Steve Polack and they did a good job. And I want to commend MTN Ghana for sponsoring the club of the century, Kotoko”.

The Acting Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Mr. Modupe Kadri, said his outfit was pleased with the outcome of the sponsorship and excited Kotoko won the FA Cup trophy.

He congratulated the team and urged them to do well as Kotoko prepare to represent Ghana at the CAF Confederation Cup next year.