Former Black Stars striker, Kwadwo Poku Mahala has recounted his lost Africa title with Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko SC after 23-years.
The retired Ghanaian footballer and now club owner was a member of Asante Kotoko SC squad that lost the 2002 CAF Winners Cup trophy to Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco.
According to Mahala, his playing mates did everything possible to clinch the title in order to secure legendary status at the club but failed. Insisting, their bitter rival’s Accra Hearts of Oak SC played a huge part in their disappointment.
Disclosing to Akakpo Agodji in an interview that, the Phobians spiritually fought against their ambition as Kotoko lost the title at home, Kumasi Baba Yara Sports Stadium despite drawing 2-2.
With first leg, result at 1-0 in favour of Wydad Athletic Club and away goal for them in Kumasi (Second leg) full time of 2-1 handed the Moroccan club the ultimate in front of the home fans.
Kwadwo Poku revealed it was a disappointing result personally but believe strongly their bitter rival’s, Accra Hearts of Oak SC caused them the title to avoid their supremacy.
“I was very disappointed personally as a player, when we failed to win the 2002 CAF Winners Cup . Because, winning it would have cemented my name as Asante Kotoko legend forever”, he said.
“We as a team, did everything right to get the title considering first leg result away but things like what happened in the second leg, happens in football””Hearts of Oak played a major role in denying us, the title.
Due to the rivalry, they backed our opponent spiritually and gave them some directions leading to our disadvantage”, Kwadwo Poku added.”In football you can not overlook such rivalry, it happens even in European football”.
Asante Kotoko SC has won the CAF Champions League twice and were adjudged the African club of the century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics(IFFHS) but since 2004 has made 10 appearance and have yet to reach the finals.
Watch full interviewhttps://www.youtube.com/embed/uqzrdky4a24S
