Asante Kotoko are set for yet another clash against their arch rivals Accra Hearts of Oak in match week 24 of the Premier league, but head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum is not too happy with medical conditions in his dressing room ahead of the big clash.
The Porcupine Warriors have not been able to beat Hearts of Oak in their last two meetings in the ongoing 2021/2022 season, drawing goalless and losing by 2-1 to the Phobians in the league and the President’s Cup respectively. Hearts of Oak, holders of the league title, have not been in the best of form this season as they have trail current leaders Asante Kotoko by 13 points, and are almost at the verge of losing their league title to their rivals.
The two sides will face of next Sunday, April 10 at the Baba Yara sports stadium, and while Hearts of Oak also have injury worries ahead of the big Super Clash, Asante Kotoko looks to have been much more affected according to head coach Prosper Ogum, who has expressed worry over the situation.
“My worry is the injury situation in the team, there are so many of them which is not good, and if you go into a big game – the El Clasico of Ghana and you are having several of your players injured, it’s not the best but that’s what I have”, Prosper lamented, speaking to StarTimes after Kotoko’s 1-0 win over King Faisal on Sunday.
Asante Kotoko captain Ishmael Ganiu will miss the Super Clash due to suspension, and was as well not available for the game against King Faisal on Sunday. Lack of fitness for the centre backs forced coach Prosper Ogum to approach the King Faisal game with several improvisation, typical among those is where he deployed defensive midfielder Justice Blay at the heart of defence as a centre back against King Faisal. Ogum however has an idea of what to do in the game against Hearts of Oak next Sunday.
“All that I have to do is to manage them at training, make sure the medical team also do their best to make sure that they get them somehow 70% fit for the game [against Hearts of Oak] and once we get them about 70% fit for the game I’m sure the rest will be the tempo and the temperament that is typical of the Hearts-Kotoko games”, Ogum added.
