Kotoko, Golden Kick to thrill fans in MTN FA Cup final …Hearts, Kotoko legends clash in curtain raiser
It will be fireworks at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium on Sunday when Asante Kotoko lock horns with Division One League side, Golden Kick, in the finals of the 2024/25 MTN FA Cup competition.
For the Porcupine Warriors, who missed the Premier League narrowly, the aim is to dismiss the bluff of their lower division opponent to placate their fans.
But that will come after a stern fight. By the gulf class, a few pundits are heavily tipping the Porcupine Warriors to enjoy a safe ride over Golden Kick to the promised.
However, the nature of the competition coupled with its history is giving Kotoko sleepless nights as the day approaches.
Noted as the second competition on the football calendar, the FA Cup has been one that is full of upsets which Kotoko are aware of.
Coming against a DOL side also invokes bad memories of the 2011 edition where the Porcupine Warriors came up as huge favourites against a DOL side, Nania FC, at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Kotoko lost that final 1-0 courtesy a solitary goal from Evans Omani in extra time.
It should be the reason why Kotoko must rewrite the script this time around by carrying the game to their opponent and assert themselves from the start.
The FA Cup offers a more realistic chance of winning a silverware for both sides in the season. Coach Karim Zito made this point clear when he took over the reins of the Porcupine Warriors after reading the tricky race for the GPL.
That suggests the seriousness the Porcupine Warriors would attach to it but Golden Kick would be a thorn in their flesh having dealt with sides like Hearts of Oak, Great Olympics, WAFA, Karela United and the high-flying Attram De Visser in the semifinal.
Meanwhile, an exciting clash to the finale would see legends of Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko revive their rivalry in a curtain raiser for the big match.
It would bring back memories of their performances in the past to give the fans a feel of what was served back then to make clashes between them thick.
Players expected on display are Charles Taylor, Eric Bekoe, Francis Akwafo, Emmanuel Armah, Eric Donkor, Amos Frimpong, Bernard Don Bortey, Sammy Adjei, Dan Quaye, Amankwah Mireku, Adjah Tetteh, Ablade Morgan, Eric Nyarko, and Emmanuel Osei, among others.
The curtain raiser is scheduled for 2:45 pm and fans have been urged to fill the stands in their numbers to enjoy the football festival.
BY ANDREW NORTEY
