Coming from a devastating 3-1 defeat to Nkana FC in in day three of the CAF Confederations cup group C in Kitwe, Asante Kotoko are poised to overturn the deficit on Sunday but the team has been urged to avoid elaborated goal celebrations and focus on scoring more goals to gain head to head advantage over the Zambian side.
Speaking to FOX FM on FOX Sports Talk on Saturday, legends of the Porcupine Warriors Papa Arko and Ernest Appau entreated the current squad to focus on scoring more goals rather than spending much time celebrating a single goal scored while the clock ticks.
‘Sometimes the aggressiveness they (Kotoko players) apply in a match is low’, Ernest Appau begun, speaking ahead of the match against Nkana on Sunday. ‘When they score, they should limit the level of the goal celebrations, as soon as they score, they should quickly get settled for restart’, he advised.
According Appau, running to celebrate with the fans after scoring allows the opponent to settle down and get organized before restart which eventually provides them with the antidote for quick response.
‘Restarting the game quickly after scoring leaves the opponents unsettled so you can even win the ball to score another goal right after restart, but when you keep long celebrating along with the spectators the opponent settles down well before restart, we are playing at home on Sunday, so immediately after scoring let’s revert back to our half for a quick restart so we can capitalize on that while they remain confused’, he added.
Papa Arko, captain of the Kotoko 1983 Champions League winning squad, also reiterated Ernest Appau’s submission, urging the players to focus on scoring more goals than over celebration of goals.
‘During our time, when we play at home, we make sure we score more than two, so we don’t waste much time on celebration of goals, we get organized quickly for restart after scoring, and that makes the supporters keep on cheering more’, Papa Arko recalled.
Asante Kotoko will host Nkana FC on Sunday after losing 3-1 away in Kitwe and will need at least two goals without conceding to gain head to head advantage over the Red Devils in group C to enhance their qualification to the quarter final stage of the competition.
