‘I did not aim at Hearts fans with my celebration’

Asante Kotoko’s Ivorian attacker Amed Toure has dispelled murmurs that his goal celebration against Hearts of Oak in the first leg of the Super 2 pre-season friendly match in Kumasi on Monday was a response to the hostile reception received from Phobian fans who had been booing him for the greater part of the first half.

The 27-year-old made a third coming to the Ghanaian Champions after ditching the Phobians following an eight-day stint in which he even scored in the Hearts jersey against Heart of Lions during the GHALCA Top4 tournament.

His ‘infamous’ decision to opt for arch rivals Kotoko did not go down well with the Hearts faithful who during the match enjoyed jeering at him to get him unsettled.

“Before my goal, the Hearts fans were always booing at my every touch of the ball to frustrate me but I ignored them to focus on my search for the goal,” Toure said.

Amed Toure in the 42nd minute rose above Hearts central pair Vincent Atinga and captain Robin Gnagne with a well-time header to nod home from a tailored cross by right back Rahim Ayew. Toure then run out of the pitch onto the tartan tracks pointing towards the travelling Phobian supporters with his celebration.

“My goal celebration was not targeted at them. Where I headed to with the celebration which was their direction was the only immediate place I could opt for. It was not a revenge at them; I have huge respect for Hearts fans,” he explained.

Hearts with a two-goal deficit, will be hosting the second leg of the friendly encounter at the Accra Stadium on Sunday, October 12.