Emmanuel Gyamfi, a former winger for Asante Kotoko, has shed light on the immense pressure players face to deliver consistent results amidst the insatiable hunger for victory among the fans.
Gyamfi emphasized the challenges of integrating inexperienced players into the Porcupines’ squad, where instant success is paramount. He highlighted the delicate balance between nurturing young talent and meeting the relentless demands of the supporters.
Asante Kotoko has faced significant challenges in the 2023/24 season, emerging as the worst-performing club in the league’s second round. The team’s struggles include seven losses in the last nine league games, leaving them in 11th place on the league table with 33 points.
The pressure on the technical team, led by Prosper Narteh Ogum, to rebuild the club has intensified, with expectations set by the club’s life patron, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Gyamfi reflected on the demands of the fans, emphasizing their unwavering desire for victory above all else. According to him, every match for Kotoko is a battleground where only triumph matters to the fans.
“In my over five years of playing for Kotoko, if I played less, say, 50 matches, I started only five of them from the bench, which meant I was very consistent with my performance.
“But with new players coming in, mostly inexperienced, they will need time to gel. However, Kotoko isn’t about that.
” All that the fans know is winning all the time, so you buy experienced and quality players for them because they can’t wait for these young ones to grow; they only want the results,” Gyamfi explained in an exclusive interview with Ghanasportspage.com.
Kotoko’s struggles include eight losses in the league, elimination from the FA Cup following a 1-0 loss to Karela United, and a defeat in the President’s Cup to Asec Mimosas with a 2-1 scoreline.
Asante Kotoko’s upcoming league match is a home game against FC Samartex 1996 on Saturday, April 20, at the Baba Yara Stadium.
Listen to what Gyamfi said in Ghanaian Language [Twi] during an interview with Sir Martin on GSP1 MEDIA
