Ghanaian international and Asante Kotoko’s stalwart defender Ismail Abdul Ganiu is currently causing nervousness in the camp of Kotoko after failing to continue yesterday’s league match against Inter Allies at the Dawu Park.
The well built solid rock defender who is credited for the club’s extraordinary performance at the defence was injured during the match and failed to complete the match as he had to be replaced by Yusif Mubarick.
Ghansportspage.com have it that the player has not been fully fit of late but been playing through the pain in the last few matches . He had a knock at the lateral knee before the Black Stars game in Cape Coast during one of Kotoko’s league games.
There was another knock during the minutes he lasted in the Black Stars game and yet again there was a re-knock at the same area yesterday thus Ganiu had to be substituted,this website has been authoritatively told.
The Kotoko team left Dawu yesterday immediately after the match for Kumasi but Ganiu was whisked to Accra for an MRI scan to be performed on him today at the 37 Military Hospital .
Coach Mariano Barreto is said to have told the Kotoko Medical team to do their possible best to get Ganiu back to fitness ,as his presence at the heart of the club’s defence is crucial in the last five matches of the league . The technical team and Management will be briefed later on the outcome of the results.
“Abdul Ganiu is a warrior and though there is the fear we may lose him for some matches ,we are very sure he will return soon because our title ambition may collapse should we lose him in several matches .
Remember he is a captain and leader on the field so we need him always . He is the organiser and motivator at the back not forgetting that he is a scorer too ,a crucial part of the reason we are challenging for the title”,a Management source told ghansportspage.com
It will be recalled that Ganiu was previously sidelined a year ago with an injury and stayed home for several months . Scans showed an injury which needed to be operated on but it became a tango between the player and the medical team.
Kotoko agreed to fly him to Germany and all documents were procured for the player to be flown to Germany,with a hospital booked already for the surgery but Ganiu disagreed,preferring to treat it with local herbs . The player travelled to his hometown of Wa for herbal treatment ,and continued same in Kumasi to which he amazingly got healed without the surgery . He has since then recaptured his position in Kotoko and is now even an integral member of the senior national team the Black Stars .
