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Asante Kotoko interim coach, Johnson Smith has indicated that his charges were tactically disciplined in their 1-0 win over Ebudua Dwarfs on Wednesday.

The Porcupine Warriors secured all points, thanks to a second half goal by defender Christopher Nettey.

Speaking after the game, Smith revealed the most important thing is picking the needed victory.

“We were tactically disciplined and that is why we won and kept a clean sheet too. We were looking for the win and we have it. ” Smith said after the game.

“The most important thing is the victory and we managed to prevent them from scoring.” he added.

Kotoko moves to third position on the league log.

A second half strike from Christopher Nettey handed Asante Kotoko a 1-0 victory against Mysterious Ebusua Dwarfs in the outstanding gameweek 7 fixture at the Cape Coast stadium.

The first half of the game ended scoreless, with both sides failing to create any clear cut chance. But Asante Kotoko were the better side and came close through Fabio Gama and Imoro Ibrahim from a free kick.

The opening minutes of the second half was evenly contested by both sides, the first big chance of the game fell to Kwame Poku in the 66th minute, he pounced on an error by the Dwarfs defense, but sent his effort wide.

Kotoko broke the deadlock in the 71st minute, a good delivery from Patrick Asmah from a free kick was met by Christopher Netty who calmly headed the ball home.

Dwarfs saw more of the ball in the remaining minutes and came close twice in additional time, but a good defending from Patrick Asmah and a good save by Razak Abalora kept them out.

The referee after 3 minutes of time added on brought proceedings to an end. Kotoko beat Dwarfs 1-0 to up to 3rd on the league table with 16 points, just a point behind league leaders Karela. Christopher Netty was named man of the match.

Kotoko’s next game will be against Aduana Stars on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium, whiles Dwarfs will host WAFA at the Cape Coast Stadium on Saturday.

By MahamaShaibu.com

Asante Kotoko Stop-gap coach Johnson Smith has named his starting line up to face Ebusua Dwarfs this afternoon.

The Porcupines are playing as a guest to Dwarfs in their outstanding match-week 7 all-important fixture at the Cape Coast Stadium.

Coach Smith has made two changes in the team that drew with WAFA last Sunday. Latif Anabila has been handed a start ahead of Patrick Asmah and Habib Mohammed coming in for Muniru Sulley.

Goalkeeper Razak Abalora has maintained his place in the sticks for Asante Kotoko, leaving Kwame Baah and Felix Annan on the bench.

Brazilian midfielder Fabio Gama who has been impressive in his last two games has been handed another start in the attacking midfield position with Kwame Opoku ahead of him in a 4-5-1 formation.

There’s no William Opoku Mensah in the matchday squad.

Below is the Asante Kotoko starting line up to face Dwarfs

Razak Abalora (GK), Christopher Nettey, Imoro Ibrahim, Mubarik Yussif, Abdul Ganiu, Habib Mohammed, Sarkodie Emmanuel, Latif Anabila, Emmanuel Gyamfi (C), Fabio Gama, Kwame Opoku.

By Duah Michael

The match officials for Matchweek 10 of the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League season have been appointed.

See who will be officiating in the tenth round of fixtures, including the GFA Cameraman and Venue Media Officers:

DATE: Friday, January 22, 2021 (6:00pm)
 MATCH: Legon Cities vs Ashantigold (STARTIMES LIVE)
VENUE: Accra Sports Stadium
REFEREE: Awurisa Andrews
ASSISTANTS:Peter Dawsa & Mumuni Fuseini
4TH REFEREE: Akudzi Martins
MATCH COMMISSIONER: Nana Opare Akufo
VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Desmond Amenu

DATE:  Saturday, January 23, 2021 (3:00pm) 
MATCH: Berekum Chelsea vs Hearts of Oak (STARTIMES LIVE)
VENUE: Golden City, Berekum
REFEREE: Alfa Ba-Adey
ASSISTANTS:Tijani Mohammed &Isaac Asante
4TH REFEREE: Maale Imgerde
MATCH COMMISSIONER: Andrews Derry
VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Precious Semevoh

DATE: DATE:  Saturday, January 23, 2021 (3:00pm) 
MATCH: Great Olympics vs Karela Utd
VENUE: Accra Sports Stadium
REFEREE: Emmanuel Otoo
ASSISTANTS:  Freeman Anwulo & Alhassan Abdulai
4TH REFEREE Selorm Yaw Bless
MATCH COMMISSIONER: Charles Darkwah
VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Raymond Ackumey
GFA CAMERAMAN: Bernard Agbodza  

DATE: Sunday, January 24, 2021 (3:00pm) 
MATCH: Dreams FC vs Liberty Professionals
VENUE: Theatre of Dreams,Dawu
REFEREE:Eso Doh Morrison
ASSISTANTS: Papala Patrick & Balanguena Stephen
4TH REFEREE: Abdulai Ibrahim
MATCH COMMISSIONER: James Adjei
VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Richard Achore
GFA CAMERAMAN Emmanuel Lartey

DATE: Sunday, January 24, 2021 (3:00pm) 
MATCH: Medeama SC vs Inter Allies
VENUE:  Tarkwa
REFEREE: Mahama Ewuntoma
ASSISTANTS: Paul Atimaka & Sulemana
4TH REFEREE: Phillip Atta Forson
MATCH COMMISSIONER: Gidiglo Williams
VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Richard Nkrumah
GFA CAMERAMAN: Paul Egbenya

DATE: Sunday, January 24, 2021 (3:00pm) 
MATCH: Mysterious Dwarfs  vs WAFA
VENUE: Cape Coast Stadium
REFEREE: Abdul Latif Qadir
ASSISTANTS: Pascal Mawusi & Richard Appiah
4TH REFEREE: Frederick Sadiena
MATCH COMMISSIONER: Adjiri Barnor
VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Lukeman Ayinde
GFA CAMERAMAN: Herbert Semavoh

DATE: Sunday, January 24, 2021 (3:00pm) 
MATCH: Elmina Sharks vs Bechem Utd
VENUE: Nduom Stadium, Elmina
REFEREE: Bashiru Dauda
ASSISTANTS:Dakura Soglo & Prosper Avinou
4TH REFEREE: Wiseman Ghansah
MATCH COMMISSIONER: E.K Asante
VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Jonathan Nelson Ackon
GFA CAMERAMAN: Gabriel Bentum

DATE: Sunday, January 24, 2021 (3:00pm) 
MATCH: Eleven Wonders vs King Faisal  (STARTIMES LIVE)
VENUE: Nana Ameyaw park, Techiman
REFEREE: Charles Bulu
ASSISTANTS: Jasper Adenyo & Ngindieye Thomas
4TH REFEREE: Clement Kwame N
MATCH COMMISSIONER: Nana Boamah Darko
VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Obed Anane Frimpong

DATE: Sunday, January 24, 2021 (6:00pm) 
MATCH: Asante Kotoko vs Aduana Stars  (STARTIMES LIVE)
VENUE: ACCRA Sports Stadium
REFEREE: Tampuri Emmanuel
ASSISTANTS: Emmanuel Allou T & Frederick Danful
4TH REFEREE: Aduntera Jacob
MATCH COMMISSIONER: James Mornah
VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Desmond Amenu 

Ebudua Dwarfs trainer, Ernest Thompson-Quartey is confident his side will secure all points when they battle Asante Kotoko in the Ghana Premier League on Wednesday, January 20, 2021.

According to him, his side starts as favourites on the afternoon at the Cape Coast Stadium in the week 7 outstanding league fixture.

Thompson-Quartey indicated that they are approaching the game same they prepared for their previous matches and that he is not faced with any herculean task of beating the Porcupine Warriors.

He, however, admits that visiting Kotoko is a good side, noting his charges will not relent on their efforts and will fight to the last minute of the game to endure they beat the Reds.

“We are approaching this game just like any other league matches. We have played against other teams and Kotoko is one of the Ghana Premier League clubs. So we’re preparing in the same way just like we did against the rest, ” Coach Ernest Thompson told Kumasi-based Hello FM.

“It’s not special preparation. It’s a normal game because the two teams will parade eleven players each.

“The one who gets his tactics and systems right on the day carries the day. And playing at our favourite backyard I think we start as favourite to pick the points than Kotoko.

“We’re not writing Kotoko off because it’s a good side. I know it is going to be a difficult game. We’re not going to relent on our efforts. We’re going to fight for 90 minutes and we hope all things go in our favour.”

Ebusua Dwarfs coach Ernest Thompson-Quartey believes referees have so far not fared badly at all in the ongoing 2020/21  Ghana Premier League despite a few complaints from some quarters.

Some club officials have not been enthused about the performance of the knights of the whistle. It would be recalled that some coaches including Ernest Thompson-Quartey were summoned before the Ghana FA Disciplinary Committee for passing “inappropriate comments”.

But Thompson sharing his thoughts on the performance of the knights of the whistle so far in the top-flight rated them 65 per cent.

“This is not the first time we have picked a win away in the league. We beat Legon Cities too away and drew with Olympics too. So I think the referees have done well so far. I will give them about 65 per cent, ” he told Kumasi-based Hello FM.

“I think they are doing well. Let’s give them the necessary support so that they believe and trust themselves in order to officiate well in the remaining matches.”

Ebusua Dwarfs trainer Ernest Thompson-Quartey has downplayed the hype around Asante Kotoko Brazilian midfielder, Fabio Gama.

The Mysterious Club will play as hosts to the Porcupine Warriors in an outstanding Ghana Premier League game Wednesday, January 20, 2020, at the Cape Coast Stadium.

The performance of Fabio Gama for the Reds in their 2-0 win over Liberty Professionals was greeted with praises both from Kotoko fans and section of the Ghanaian media

But ahead of the game, head coach of Ebusua Dwarfs has insisted that the former Brazilian U-17 midfielder does not deserve the hype about his qualities.

According to him, there are a lot of Ghanaian players who are better than him in the ongoing campaign.

“I have Fabio Gama, he is just a normal player midfielder like any other Ghanaian player, ” he told Kumasi-based Hello FM.

I think we have better midfielders than Fabio Gama in Ghana. Let us stop hyping him because he is a Brazilian and hype out own.

“There are better players in the league and we have players who are even playing better than Fabio Gama.

“I am not saying he is a bad player but we have players who are doing better than him.”