[ 2021-03-05 ]

Tough task for Odartey Lamptey … leads Elmina Sharks against Kotoko

March 5, 2021

Barely five days after battling rival Hearts of
Oak to a nail-biting barren game, Asante Kotoko
will this evening seek to garner maximum points as
they engage Elmina Sharks in a dicey week-17
league tie at the Ndoum Park in Elmina.

Kick-off is at 6.pm.

It will be the first game for interim coach Nii
Odartey Lamptey, who was appointed after Sharks
parted ways with Yaw Acheampong and two other
backroom staff. It is certainly a huge task for
Lamptey in the dugout.

Indeed, Sharks are yet to pick a win in their last
six games and would have to strive hard and get
back to winning ways without the services of
Benjamin Twebeboah and Benjamin Arthur.

With three victories after 16 games, Sharks will
be aiming to pick up the pieces against a Kotoko
side that could go all the way for a win to keep
their title hopes alive.

In that quest, the visitors will be eager to
worsen the woes of Sharks who have dropped from
mid-table position to sit 14th on the table. The
return of Patrick Asmah and Evans Adomako will add
more force to Kotoko who look to start the month
of March on a good note.

A win against Sharks will close the gap to two
points at the top – and potentially unseat
Karela United after their two outstanding games
are cleared. Kotoko exited the CAF Confederations
Cup and their attention will now lie on the league
as they are eager to end their seven years trophy
drought.

In the other game of the day, bottom-placed Inter
Allies will host Ashantigold SC at the Accra Sport
Stadium at 3.pm.

Recent results have not been favourable for Inter
Allies in the ongoing season, as they have picked
up only two wins in 16 games with their fans
already calling for the head of Danish gaffer
Danijel Mujkanovic who took over from Henrik Lehm
in January 2020.

With just a solitary victory in their last four
games, Allies will face a tough Ashgold side that
would also seek to bounce back from a
disappointing 2-4 defeat to Dreams FC last week.

It would not be out of place to say that the
departure of some key players has really affected
the Allies- a team that was on top form in the
truncated league last season.

Bent on escaping relegation, however, the return
of Samuel Armah – the club’s second best
scorer in the cancelled league, could be a huge
boost for Allies. Former Kotoko duo of Richard
Arthur and Emmanuel Agyeman Badu, have also found
a way to the side in the second transfer window.

The Capelli boys, as Allies are known, could use
this fixture to turn things ahead of the second
round, especially when the Miners will be missing
the services of top striker Hans Kwofie, who
registered five goals before signing for ‘Money
bags’ Legon Cities.

However, the individual brilliance of David
Abagna, Eric Esso, Frank Akoto and Richard Agyeman
could come to play and keep Ashgold in the title
race as they are seven points behind leaders
Karela.

BY LINUS SIAW NARTEY

Source - Ghanaian Times

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