Kotoko’s attacking frailties; a huge challenge

Opoku Nti, Kennedy, Joe Debrah, Baba Nyara, Joe Otchere, Ebo Mends, Prince Polley, Michael Osei, Kwadwo Sumaila, Prince Amoako.

Remember them? These were strikers and attacking midfielders who scored goals for fun in the Porcupine kit with their legendary status enshrined in the annals of Ghana sport.

With the kind of quality that existed in all the competing Ghanaian clubs at the time, their feats were more remarkable and have been celebrated over time.

Fast forward that to the current dispensation and you have to say these are extremely strange times for poachers in the red shirt. The stunning statistics of Kotoko’s form this season and seasons before this is shocking to say the least. It is a paltry 11 goals scored in the GPL from 18 games and 10 goals conceded in the process.

It is not any better in the MTN FA Cup where it has been three strikes against second-tier sides BYF, Proud United, and Wassaman. That is a total of 14 goals in 21 competitive games this season. Now that is relegation form, to be honest.

I don’t quite recall the last time in my close to three decades following the fortunes of the Reds where they have been so poor in front of goal. You would have to go back to match day 1 in the GPL against Liberty Professionals to record the last time Kotoko scored two goals in a game courtesy a brace by Yakubu Mohammed this season.

Now juxtapose that with WAFA, Aduana, Hearts, and Dwarfs, who all lead Kotoko on the league log and you can understand how this Kotoko form should be quickly rectified. It’s 29, 26, 26 and 20 for them.

A lot was said and written about Kotoko assembling one of the best squads in recent times to play in the GPL. The options upfront looked mouth-watering.

Yakubu has had a stellar couple of years plying his trade with Ashgold and in South Africa. Abass Mohammed was a big part of Medeama’s progress in the CAF Confederation Cup last year.

Baba Mahama was lighting up the Techiman City Park with his trickery, intelligence and goals. Kwame Boateng (who has since joined Great Olympics), evergreen Obed Owusu, and you could positively conclude that it was going to be such a lethal attack.

Add the supporting attacking midfield cast of Michael Akuffo, Emmanuel Gyamfi, Frank Sarfo Gyamfi, Ollenu Ashitey, and Kwame Boahene and opposing defenders would have wondered how they were going to deal with the threat.

A combination of factors though have conspired to rob the Reds of all the positives that were expected from the summer signings and the existing squad – from the failure of new players to adapt to the poor temperament of matchday squads and the managerial rigmarole that hit the club.

How on earth do you expect to challenge for honours with three managers in 16 weeks? Managers come with systems with these implemented based on the materials available and the demands of managing a big club like Kotoko. It was pretty obvious that the latter played a huge part in how the first 11 games were approached by Croat Zdravko Lugarosic.

For a manager who had no hand in the signings of the assembled squad and the huge expectations placed at his doorstep, the safest bet was to craft a strong defensive niche that was impregnable and a decent attacking line complemented by the efforts of the attacking midfielders in Emmanuel and Frank Gyamfi on the wings and Kwame Boahen playing just behind the lead striker. We know what happened with that. No long talk.

Coach Frimpong Manso was expected to reverse the trend when he was given the opportunity to demonstrate his managerial prowess. It wasn’t any better. His very open acknowledgement of the team’s failure to hit the heights of the standards of previous Kotoko teams were in all sincerity poor.

I am not too sure if Mr Pollack has been any different since assuming the reins. He may have done enough to prevent losses but he clearly has a massive job on his hands to transform the attacking fortunes of the team. You cannot have a team filled with such quality and fail to make things happen.

I oversaw the coverage of the cup tie against Wassaman on TV and there were moments where you wondered how low some of these players have sunk mentally.

Their confidence has been given a battering with how results have panned out and there were countless moments when some players seemed to be out of their depth.

It would be most unfair though to give up on the team in these trying times. They are already 10 points adrift of league leaders WAFA and also playing catch-up to a stronger and more composed Aduana and Hearts of Oak who would not be letting down their guard.

Winning the league now would be more than a miracle. Kotoko’s best bet for silverware is more likely to be the MTN FA Cup. Miracles do happen in life with a bit of hard work as well. The Kotoko I see today are not working hard enough.

Pollack, get your lads to brave the storm.

Thanks for reading this peace. Fabulous, the greatest.