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Soccer News of Wednesday, 20 November 2002

Source: Daily Guide

Kotoko Optimistic Of Annexing Trophy

ARDENT FOLLOWERS of fabulous Asante Kotoko have expressed optimism of their team’s chances of being crowned champs of this year’s African Cup Winners’ cup competition. This comes on the heels of Kotoko’s narrow 0-1 defeat to Wydad of Morocco in the first of the two-legged finals honoured in Morocco last Saturday.

After the team’s brilliant performance which saw them conceding just a goal the least to be conceded on away soil, and at the dreaded Mohammed ‘V’ stadium, fans generally expressed cautious optimism of Kotoko emerging as champs after the second-leg slated for December 8th at the Kumasi sports stadium.

Given the pedigree of Wydad, we thought Kotoko would return with an avalanche of goals. But, thanks to a well-map-out strategy which saw the boys matching the Moroccans boot for boot, and coming away with a marginal 0-1 defeat noted Osei Agyeman, a newspaper vendor and a staunch Kotoko follower.

We would have, at least, clinched a draw to make the Kumasi duel a mere formality, if the strikers had been more purposeful up-front. The coach, in my view, should devote much time whetting the appetite of the strikers for goals and how to take created chances.

With this, Kotoko would come away with at least two unanswered goals in the second-leg to emerge victors, another fan intimated.

However, most of the fansDaily Guide spoke to, cautioned the team not to allow complacency to creep into their midst, since that would not only be dangerous, but disastrous for Kotoko as the Moroccans boast of an enviable away record, one of which saved them qualify for the finals.