Kotoko crowned Premier League champions

Kumasi, July 21, GNA - Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club were crowned 2007/2008 Onetouch Premier League champions on Sunday after they drew 2-2 with city rivals King Faisal Babies in a coronation match played at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

It was all joy as management, players and supporters of the 'Porcupine Warriors' went into wild jubilation soon after Kumasi- based referee Emmanuel Kyeremateng whistled for the end of proceedings. The players of Kotoko were also presented with medals.

It was Daniel Nii Adjei who shot Kotoko ahead in the 30th minute when he blasted home a 25-yard shot to beat Faisal's goalkeeper Iddrisu Ibrahim after latching onto a pass from skipper of the side Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour.

The goal charged the atmosphere and gingered the League champions for more action as they piled pressure on Faisal for more goals. Following their continued onslaught Kotoko fetched the second goal in the 49th minute again through Nii Adjei who had an easy task of tapping in a pass from goal king Eric Bekoe after the latter had dummied the Faisal goalkeeper in a solo effort.

Faisal lifted their game after conceding the two goals as they seized the midfield and stringed together good passes and operating effectively on the flanks.

In one of their incursions into the vital area of Kotoko in the 67th minute, Faisal's Ebo Andoh was brought down in the box resulting in a penalty which was beautifully converted by substitute Osman Bashiru. Ten minutes later, Faisal leveled up the scores with a similar fashion as Bashiru was on target again to score from the spot kick when Andoh was again brought down again in the opponent's 18 yard box. The game from then became a ding dong affair with none of the sides able to convert the chances that came their way until the final whistle. Mr Kwasi Nyantakyi, President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) who was flanked by Chairman of the Professional League Board (PLB), Mr Welbeck Abra-Appiah, Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister as well as officials of Ghana Telecom, sponsors of the League, presented the trophy to Kotoko's skipper Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour to officially declare Kotoko as the 2007/2008 League Champions.