Kotoko coach C.K. Akonnor demands focus as Kariobangi battle looms

Coach CK Akonnor has called for total concentration from his players as the team prepares to play Kariobangi sharks in Kenya on Saturday.

Asante Kotoko play as guests to the Kenyans in Nairobi in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup with the expectation of engineering a positive to improve on their chances of progressing in the competition after the second leg tie slated in Kumasi in a fortnight.

The Porcupines arrived in the Eastern African country on Wednesday, and Akonnor told his charges to shun every destructive element and focus on the game as he led them to their first training session later on in the day.

"We are here now; we spoke about this day for a long time and now it's here," Akonnor told his charges at the Gian Institute Park at Pagani. "I want you all to concentrate and focus on our purpose of being here."

"Don't allow anything to distract you. Don't communicate with anyone who you know could lead you to lose your focus. It could be anyone or anything. We need your minds here and nowhere else because this is a crucial moment."

"We are not from this country so a lot of things will go against us; the weather and others. So concentrate, be focused and we can deal with every adversary that comes our way and go back successfully," he added.