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Asante Kotoko midfielder, Baba Yahaya has appealed to fans of the club not to give up on them despite their slow start to the season.

Yahaya was named Man of The Match for his display and also providing a magical moment to salvage a point for his team when they hosted Karela United at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday, October 1 2023.

The 21-year-old climbed off the bench to  add a lot of bite to the Kotoko attack after they fell behind to Evans Adomako’s goal for Karela. Yahaya netted the equalizer for The Porcupine Warriors in the 91st minute.

Kotoko are still chasing their first win of the campaign, and Yahaya made an appeal to their fans after full time.

He told StarTimes: “The results are not coming but we thank them for coming in their numbers to support us. They shouldn’t give up on us. We hope the results will start coming and they will be happy.”

By Suleman Asante

Asante Kotoko legend Joe Debrah has indicated that the club’s supporters cannot be patient if results are subpar, all in the name of ‘rebuilding’.

The former Ghana international believes Kotoko is not a place for rebuilding and that the team should be winning matches from the start of the season.

After failing to defend the Ghana Premier League title last season, the Porcupine Warriors have brought back Prosper Narteh Ogum and signed over 10 new players. However, they are occupying 17th position in the 18-club league after match-day 3, drawing twice and losing one.

He urged the players to double up on their training schedules to be able to compete well.

“Kotoko does not know rebuilding. It is not a rebuilding club. Kotoko is a team that heads straight up when the league starts. We have the players already, and when the league starts, we just move. The coaches and people are saying rebuilding, so let’s see, “Joe Debrah on Kessben TV.

“Right now, teams that face Kotoko don’t have any fear; I don’t even know why. The boys need to do extra training. There is no personal training; they only rely on the team’s training.”

Kotoko will play as a guest for the Accra Lions in their next league game before they take on Aduana FC at home.

The 2023/ 24 Ghana Premier League continued with Match Day 3 encounters at the various venues.

Scores at a glance;

Friday
Berekum Chelsea 1-1 Accra Lions

Scorers: Mezack Afriyie || Bernard Kesse

Man of the match: Yaw Dankwa (BerekumChelsea)

Saturday
Bofoakwa 1-0 Hearts of Oak

Scorer: Dauda Saaka

Man of the match: Saaka Dauda (Bofoakwa Tano)

Sunday

Legon Cities 2-1 Aduana Fc

Scorers: Nicholas Mensah, Isaac Mintah(pen) || Samuel Armah

Man of the match: Mohammed Suleman (Legon Cities)

RTU 2-2 Heart of Lions

Scorers: Owusu Afriyie, Ebenezer Abban || Abdul Fatawu Sayibu, Seedorf Asante Afful

Man of the match: Abubakar Shayibu (RTU)

FC Samartex 4-1 Bechem United

Scorers: Evans Osei Wusu, Emmanuel Keyekeh, Baba Hamadu Musah(2x, 1pen) || Augustine Okrah

Man of the match: Baba Hamadu Musah (FC Samartex)

Great Olympics 1-0 GoldStars

Scorer: Michael Osei

Man of the match: Michael Osei (Great Olympics)

Asante Kotoko 1-1 Karela United

Scorers: Baba Yahaya || Evans Adomako Wiredu

Man of the match: Baba Yahaya (Kotoko)

Wednesday

Dreams FC vs Nsoatreman FC

Medeama SC vs Nations FC

Statistics

Home wins: Four (4)
Away wins: zero(0)
Draw: Three (3)
Wins (%): 57.14%
Home goals: Twelve (12)
Away goals: Six (6)
Total goals: 18
First-half goals: 8
Second half goals: 10
Av. goal/match: 2.6
Clean sheets: 2
Penalties: 2
Highest scoring club: FC Samartex – 4

Topscorers Chart

League Table

Asante Kotoko managed to avoid consecutive defeats in the early stages of the season with a 1-1 draw against Karela United on Sunday, thanks to Baba Yahaya’s 90th-minute equaliser.

However, this result means that the Porcupine Warriors are still without a win after previously drawing with Heart of Lions and losing to Bibiani Goldstars in their two previous games.

The draw also highlights Kotoko’s ongoing struggle at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, where they haven’t won a game in their last six attempts. This poor home form is a concern, as it often plays a crucial role in achieving success in the Ghanaian top-flight league.

Karela United took an early lead in the 9th minute when Evans Adomako outran the Kotoko defence and skillfully beat goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim, who was making his first start of the season. This early setback left Kotoko chasing the game, and they pushed hard for an equaliser.

Their efforts eventually paid off in the 91st minute when substitute Baba Yahaya rescued a point for the home side. While the draw might have disappointed Kotoko fans, they will hope to see improved performances in the upcoming matches.

Coach Prosper Ogum has faced some criticism this week, and unless results start to improve in line with their aspirations, he may come under further scrutiny despite leading the team to a league title in 2021.

Asante Kotoko’s next fixture will see them travel to the capital to face Accra Lions, while Karela United will also be playing in Accra against Great Olympics.

RTU were held to a 2-2 draw by top flight returnees, Kpando Heart of Lions at the Aliu Mahama Stadium on Sunday, October 1 2023.

The notable change in the RTU set up was Hafiz Mohammed stepping in for the injured Mankuyeli.

Owusu Afriyie shot RTU into the lead just five minutes into the game but Lions skipper, Ebenezer Annan restored parity before the break on 41 minutes.

Fatawu Salifu’s lads came close to securing their first win of the campaign after Asante Seedorf shot them into the lead on 71 minutes.

The Pride of The North didn’t take long find the leveler after just five minutes through Shaibu on 76 minutes.

RTU will be happy to avoid defeat at home but for Lions they will see it as a missed opportunity to record their first win of the campaign.

RTU will host Gold Stars for their next match while Heart of Lions will host Bofoakwa Tano.

FC Samartex 1996 retuning to winning ways in the Ghana Premier League after smashing Bechem United at the Nsenkyire Stadium in Samreboi on Sunday.

The Timber Boys claimed their second win of the season after staging a remarkable comeback to thump Bechem 4-1 in the matchday three fixture.

Samartex gaffer Nurudeen Amadu made a couple of changes to the squad that were beaten 2-0 by Nations FC last week with Ebenezer Acquah replacing James Sewornu while Gabriel Bonnah returned to the start list.

Bismark Kobi-Mensah made only one alteration to the squad that pipped Dreams FC in the last round with club legend Augustine Okrah making his first start of the campaign.

Okrah rejoined Bechem after ending his adventure in Tanzania with Simba SC after the end of the 2022-23 season.

Okrah got the Hunters into the lead in the encounter after 18 minutes against the run of play as he found the back of the net following a brilliant solo effort.

Samartex drew level a few moments later after Evans Osei-Wusu converted a penalty kick after Bechem goalkeeper Haruna Dari Aziz brought down Bonnah inside the box.

Bechem would play the entire second half with ten men after midfielder Emmanuel Owusu was sent off on the stroke of half-time after receiving a second caution.

Midfielder Emmanuel Keyekeh, with an individual effort, gave Samartex the lead in the 65th minute.

Baba Hamadu Musa got the third for Samartex with his his first goal for the club, having scored from the spot following a penalty after Osei-Wusu was fouled in the box.

Musa scored again to wrap up the massive victory for the Timber Boys as they ran riot over the Hunters.