Coach Frimpong Manso praised his team’s display against Hearts of Oak last Monday despite their 3-1 defeat in the Ghana@60 President's Cup thriller, saying it was an improvement on their recent poor performances.
But supporters of the club may not be amused by the lacklustre show put up by the Porcupine Warriors at the Accra Stadium which embarrassed them in front of their arch-rivals.
Nonetheless, Kotoko will be back on the same turf this tomorrow for some kind of redemption as they square off with fellow strugglers, Accra Great Olympics, in a Premier League encounter.
Kotoko are currently fifth on the ladder with 20 points. They registered their last victory against table toppers, WAFA, in March. Since then, the Porcupine Warriors have struggled at home and lost all away matches, including a 0-1 loss to arch-rivals, Hearts.
Last Monday, Kotoko’s midfield looked disjointed, coupled with an uncoordinated defence which needs to be worked as the league gets keener.
Kotoko’s resolve to overcome the present crisis on the pitch would be put to the test tomorrow against an equally desperate Olympics side which appears to frolick with relegation.
The Wonder Club seem to have lost their magic wand, having failed to come out of the woods even after tension was calmed in the coaching department recently.
Olympics currently lie 14th on the log, two points away from the bottom, and tomorrow’s match is a must-win to improve their lot in the league.
However, with a wounded Kotoko seething with rage and eager to appease their angry fans, Coach Tom Strand and his assistant Godwin Attram would have to conjure the eighth wonder to tame them.
To do so, strikers Osah Bernadinho, Abel Manomey, Benjamin Arthur and others must have the gut to challenge the Kotoko defence and strive to find the back of the net.
Away from the Olympics-Kotoko drama, fourth-placed Hearts of Oak will welcome table toppers WAFA in a balanced encounter at the same venue on Monday.
Hearts are still revelling in their feat against Kotoko and coach Henry Wellington’s charges must quickly come down to earth to face WAFA whom they have struggled to beat in recent times.
In the other matches on Sunday, Inter Allies welcome Bolga All Stars at the El-Wak Stadium in Accra, while at Cape Coast, relegation-threatened AshantiGold will be the guests of Ebusua Dwarfs.
At Tarkwa, Medeama will play host to Elmina Sharks, while at Dansoman, Liberty Professionals take on Tema Youth.
At Wa, All Stars welcome Bechem United and Aduana Stars clash with Berekum Chelsea in a tight regional derby.