Special Competition: Karela United vs Asante Kotoko final peview

While Karela United are in the hunt for their first ever ticket to represent Ghana in the continent’s flagship club competition, Kotoko are previous winners of the CAF Champions League.

Winner of Sunday’s grand finale game at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium will represent the West African powerhouse at next season’s CAF Champions League.

The Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Asokwa – Kumasi, is the venue for Sunday’s epic clash following a last-minute change from the Accra Sports Stadium Wa-based Abdul Latif Adaari appointed to be the centreman.

Both teams mounted spectacular semi-finals displays to reach the Tier I final, each winning narrowly.

Kotoko escaped with a 5-4 penalty shootouts win over arch-rivals Accra Hearts of Oak at the Accra Sports Stadium while Karela United strangled AshantiGold, thanks to a 94th minute supremely magisterial finish from Charles Diawisie Taylor at the Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi.

Kotoko were Ghana’s sole reps in Africa last season, playing in the CAF Confederation Cup and Charles Akonnor’s side are poised to scale this hurdle to play in the CAF first-tier club competition.

Karela have never tasted African football in the club’s fabulous history and a win on Sunday will surely down in the annals of Ghanaian football history.

Diawisie Taylor, 19, feels his goal king race lead is under threat from Kotoko’s Abdul Safiu Fatawu who is a goal shy of his 10 and is determined to do everything possible to score against the Porcupine Warriors before the teeming red army fans.

“[Yes, I know he’s on my tail] but I seriously need to win the top scorer award so I would do whatever it takes to score on Sunday,” he told Ncspecialcompetition.com.

Diawisie was born in Dormaa Ahenkro – the base of Aduana Stars, but grew up in Berekum where he led Berekum Presbyterian Senior High School to win the Zonal competition in 2014.

And, he has not looked back ever since, featuring for Gold Stars under Johnson Smith before his switch to Karela under the influence of the trainer.

Kotoko’s defence has conceded the least number of goals in the Tier I competition and are renowned with the presence of Abdul Ismail Ganiu, Amos Frimpong, Wahab Adams and the promising Evans Owusu whose meteoric edge has surprised many. Few strike forces have been able to penetrate their defence but Diawisie is working out a scheme to put them to the sword.

“[I agree that they have a strong defence] but I am working on my possible best to score against them because like I said I really need to win this award,” his face beams with confidence as he talks.

Kotoko were hoping to reach the final of both Tier I and II but they watched their dreams evaporate into the thin air as AshantiGold hammered them 3-1 in the Tier II semi-finals at the Accra Sports Stadium in midweek.

Charles Akonnor admitted the Miners were superior to his side.

If Wednesday’s performance is anything to go by it means the Porcupine Warriors must bolster their performance to triumph over the Passioners.