Head Coach of the league leaders, Prosper Narteh Ogum defended Frank Etouga Mbella after the Kotoko star missed from the spot twice in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Aduana Stars.
A first-half goal from the star helped the hosts to a 1-0 lead at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in the 39th minute.
Etouga, however, had two penalties to cut everything short for the Porcupines but his first kick was saved by the goalkeeper of the visitors and the other one was denied by the woodwork.
However, goalkeeper Addo was a man on a mission in goal, and he successfully kept out Mbella’s effort by preventing him from snatching a win for Kotoko.
The striker, who got his 19th goal today, stepped up to try to double the lead but saw both penalties thwarted.
The Porcupines manager got a win last weekend over WAFA after two consecutive losses in the Premier League, yet his side struggled to record another win.
A game that was heading to a comfortable 3 points for Ogum’s men was suddenly brought into chaotic life courtesy of Bright Agyei, who broke the hearts of the Reds with a last-minute strike.
When they questioned the manager about the missed spot-kicks, he simply said he is not worried but confidence should be restored in the player.
At a point in time when he [Etouga] squandered the first penalty, were you thinking of changing him not to have taken the second penalty? “Not at all. I mean he’s been playing and he’s been scoring and once he missed I encouraged him that is part of it and this is not the first time he’s missed a penalty. I think he did that when we went to Elmina Sharks. He missed it and I spoke with him. He got his confidence back.”
“From that time he converted all the penalties that we had. Is just unfortunate that he missed today’s penalties we got. That is it. I mean he’s scored a good goal, a very fantastic goal. We could have gone up by 3-0 so that what has just happened wouldn’t have happened but the first one was saved by the goalkeeper, and the second kick hits the upright. He got it right though so is part of it.”
“We don’t have to worry our heads so much about it because is a game over. There’s nothing we can’t do about the scoreline. All that we have to do is to encourage the young man to get his confidence back so that in subsequent games he can give us the best that he has been given to us.” He stated.
