Showdown in Kumasi: Wikki ‘ll survive - Bosso; Nothing can stop us - Kotoko

06.04.2008

AFTER a 2-2 draw in Bauchi, Nigeria’s Wikki Tourists will go for an adventurous task of stopping Asante Kotoko of Ghana today at Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi in the return leg tie of the Confederation Cup.

Coach Issa Ladan Bosso had told Tribunesports after the seemingly disappointing first leg game that hope was not lost yet.
“ I am going to Ghana to qualify come rain or shine and I am not disturbed by this result. I told them right from the beginning that my target is to move to the next round and I am still optimistic about this.

“In football, anything can happen and I believe we have all it takes to advance in this competition. The psyche of the players has changed after this game and the mindset is that we can do it in Ghana.It‘s not an impossible task and moreso no team is unbeatable”, Bosso said.

The National U-20 coach stated that the Ghanaian side was not technically superior to his team adding that,” we changed our approach to the game when it was a bit late and now, we have to go all out to prove that we are better. Take it or leave it, I am coming back from Ghana victorious”.

Meanwhile, Coach Bashir Hayford believes nothing can stop Wikki from crashing out of the race today. The Hungary-trained coach told Tribunesports in Bauchi that he was lucky to meet a weaker opponent in the Nigerian team

“Wikki is not a bad team but it cannot stop my team.In fact, we drew here because of the condition of the pitch. My players did their best. The pitch was not good enough for shooting and that was why we had to rely on short passes all the time but they are going to see our best in Ghana.

“There is no hiding place for Wikki because we don’t have any cause to be afraid of. We don’t play under pressure at home and I think this is a good chance for us to advance to the next stage of the competition though, we won’t underrate our opponent”, the 48-year old coach said.

Kotoko chairman, Sylvester Asare-Owusu is equally optimistic about his team flight to the second round of the championship introduced in 2004 saying the good pitch in Ghana will make a diffference today.

“It is not possible for Wikki to survive in Ghana, we are better in every department of the game and we won’t take chances.We thought we could win this game but we are going home to show the stuff we are made of,” Asare said.

The “Fabulous Asante Kotoko” boasts of tested players in former international and captain of the side, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour with Harrison Afful and teammate, Eric Bekoe who featured against Mexico in an international friendly in London penultimate Wednesday alongside, Burkinabe goalkeeper, Soulama Abdoulaye, Richard Manu, Daniel Nii Adjei, Jordan Opoku, Stephen Oduro and Kwabena Yaro, Samuel Inkoom and Prince Anokye among others.By Ganiyu Salman