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Soccer News of Tuesday, 8 August 2006

Source: Sports Guide

Kotoko-Al Ahly Thriller

Special Package For Players

FORMER VICE chairman of the Ghana Football Association, Lawyer Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, has boosted the morale of players of Asante Kotoko, promising them a special package of ten million cedis, should they record a win in their CAF Champions League fixture with Al Ahly of Egypt at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium, this weekend, reports Isaac Franklin.

Lawyer Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, who also happens to be the Ashanti Regional Minister made the pledge, when the players called on him last weekend. The Minister?s initiative is as part of his efforts to help redeem Kotoko?s image, in Africa.

Aside the special package awaiting players of the Porcupine Warriors, they are poised to daze the Egyptian side, which possesses a good away-record, so as to keep their African title dreams alight.

Information gathered by Sports Guide indicates that, the board of directors are impressed with the current performance of the Porcupine Warriors and are bent on approving proposals for increment in bonuses by the acting chief executive, Mr. Jarvis Peprah.

Mr. Peprah yesterday told Sports Guide in an interview that the Porcupine Warriors were not leaving any stone unturned and are set to storm the battlefield at Obuasi, this weekend.

He noted that there were no injury worries in camp, adding that Kotoko was stepping up preparations in Obuasi, today.

According to him, it is up to the technical team of Kotoko to parade a stupendous squad, capable of halting Al Ahly.

The head coach of the club, Emmanuel Kwasi Afranie Sports Guide learnt has patched up side?s loopholes, since or a draw, or lose would narrow Kotoko?s title aspirations.

Defender Shilla Illiasu currently having trials with English Premiership side, Arsenal, is expected to return on time, so as to beef up the Porcupine Warriors? squad.

The Kotoko players are now full of confidence and believe they are competent of defeating any opposition, at the moment.

Intriguingly, the Porcupine Warriors have not suddenly become swollen headed or over confident, in the aftermath of the 4-2 maul of Tunisia?s CS Sfaxien, at the Len Clay Stadium, a fortnight earlier.

Most of the players are presently focused and relaxed on Sunday?s cracker.