Asante Kotoko head coach Abdul Karim Zito has answered his critics in style after guiding the Porcupine Warriors to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bibiani Gold Stars in the Champion of Champions clash at Duns Park.
The triumph came as a huge relief for Kotoko, who were under pressure following a woeful campaign in the GHALCA Top 4 tournament, where they lost all three matches to Gold Stars, Heart of Lions, and Hearts of Oak. Their poor run left them bottom of the standings and sparked fierce criticism from supporters ahead of the new season.
Zito, however, attributed those struggles to a congested fixture schedule that left his players fatigued, unlike rival clubs who had time to rest after the league season.
“The GHALCA Tournament came at a bad time for us, not for the other clubs,” Zito explained. “Right after the league we played the FA Cup, the President’s Cup, and then travelled. Meanwhile, the other teams were resting.”
The coach admitted that Kotoko entered the Top 4 still in the early stages of pre-season, which explained the defensive lapses and sluggish performances.
“We were in the basic phase of pre-season when we started playing matches, so I wasn’t expecting too much. Most of the goals we conceded came from small mistakes or set-pieces. By the time we faced Hearts of Oak in the last match, you could see the boys were beginning to pick up,” he noted.
Despite those setbacks, Zito maintained confidence in his players, and that faith was rewarded with the Champion of Champions victory.
“I told them, I trust you, I know what you can do. We can go and win the Champion of Champions here. And one thing I always said is this: you can’t beat Zito twice. That, I am sure of,” he declared.
The result eases the pressure on Zito and provides Kotoko with a morale-boosting start to the new campaign, reinforcing their determination to compete strongly for silverware this season.
