Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum has expressed concerns about his team’s inability to finish off chances, following Kotoko’s 1-1 stalemate against Medeama in Tarkwa on Sunday.
Asante Kotoko, who had picked up their second win of the second round after beating Sarmatex 1-0 in their last league outing, were aiming to override the storm in a hugely disappointing season as they visited defending champions Medeama.
Kotoko did their chances of finishing in the top half of the league no harm as they edged ahead courtesy of a thumping header for Steve Mukwala’s 10th league goal of the season.
However, the Porcupine Warriors were unable to add to the advantage; culpable of spurning numerous opportunities, which gave Medeama a lifeline back in the game with an expertly converted penalty kick by Diawisie Taylor.
The lack of ruthlessness in front of goal left head coach Prosper Nartey Ogum frustrated by the indecisiveness of his players in the final-third all season.
“It’s been happening throughout the season. We create a lot of chances but the conversion is the issue. Interestingly too, we’ve been training on it. At training, they score a lot of goals at training, but then the tempo and then the temperament of training and games are different. They need to be positionally aware of where they are, apply the right technique, and put the ball at the back of the net, he said
If you look at the goal, for instance, Steve scored, the jump was super, the header, the forehead, everything was okay. So they [fans] are right. I think we still need to work on it [finishing] and make sure that the few chances that come our way we are able to convert”, he added
Kotoko are now languishing in 11th position on the league log with 37 points, two points ahead of fierce rivals Hearts of Oak who lie 12th with 35 points.
The Porcupine Warriors will have the opportunity to further make up for the lost grounds when they welcome Legon Cities to the Baba Yara Stadium next weekend, while Medeama travel to Accra to face Great Olympics with their title defense seeming all but over.
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Story by: Andrews Sefa Bamfo| univers. ug.edu.gh
