Kotoko are league Champions

Supporters of Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Sunday could not celebrate in a picnic fashion as expected of them after the team beat Berekum Arsenals 1-0 to win this year's GT Premier League trophy in their last match played at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

This followed Kotoko's unimpressive performance in the match, which the supporters had expected a high performance from the players to enable them celebrate deep into the night for the already won trophy.


Not even the penalty that was scored by substitute Aziz Ansah in the 79th minute could convince the teeming supporters who left the stadium with mixed feelings.


The presence of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Life Patron of the Club did not even spur the players to improve on their standard of play and allowed Arsenals to dictate the pace of the game to the bewilderment of the supporters.


Kotoko kicked-off after referee R.T.K. Attifu of Tarkwa signalled the two sides into action and quickly went into attack and scored a goal in the third minute through Nana Arhin Duah but striker's effort was disallowed.


Arsenals took over proceedings and nearly caused a scare in the 11th minute but Alex Asamoah shot wide.

The visitors continued to pile pressure and another chance that came their way in the 16th minute was also wasted.


In the 29th minute, Ali Ouedrago of Kotoko dribbled through the defence of Arsenals but his final shot missed the posts narrowly. Kotoko, however, came back strongly in the second half and nearly took the lead in the 46th minute but goalkeeper J. Quaicoo came out to save the situation.


Arsenals who showed their determination to frustrate Kotoko, came into the picture in the 52nd minute after pinning the Kotoko defence to the wall but and opportunity that fell the way of Asamoah saw his shot again sailing over the bar.


Kotoko exhausted their substitution and got a penalty in the 76th minute when Douglas Nkrumah was brought down in the box but strangely Referee Attifu delayed in whistling and when he later pointed to the penalty box, the players of Arsenals rushed on him and this brought proceedings to a halt.


When tempers cooled down, Aziz Ansah converted the kick for the only goal of the match.

Osei Kwame nearly made it 2-0 for Kotoko at the stroke of full time but his powerful header sailed over the bar.


After the final whistle, the Arsenal players rushed on the referee to attack him this compelled the referee to throw a blow at one of the players before security personnel came in to maintain law and order.


Messrs Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister and O.B. Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports jointly presented the trophy to skipper Edmund Owusu-Ansah who intend presented it to the Asantehene.


Present were the officials of the Ghana Telecom, sponsor of this year's Premier League.