Match Day 27 Preview: Warriors Welcome Samartex
by Communication Department
We return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon when we host league leaders FC Samartex at Baba Yara Stadium as we look to get back to winning ways.
After the defeat against Dreams, the team returned to our training base on Thursday afternoon to organize themselves and devise a strategy for Sunday’s fixtureand the remaining fixtures ahead.
The Porcupine Warriors will go into Sunday’s fixture with renewed energy and confidence after a meeting with the Life Patron, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace during the week. During the meeting, the Great King asked the playing body to be determined and get the team back on track.
We made a good impression last season by doing the double over the Samreboi-based club in their debut Ghana Premier League season. We came from a goal down to win the initial fixture 2-1 through Nicholas Mensah’s strike and Augustine Agyapong’s beautiful free-kick goal, while two first goals from Rocky Dwamena and Enock Morrison were enough to seal a comfortable double.
In the first-round game this season, we succumbed to FC Samartex with a 1-0 loss at Samreboi, thus becoming their first and only win over us.
The weekend match day 27 encounter will offer an opportunity to revive our season and move to the top half of the league table should we beat FF Samartex on Sunday afternoon.
However, Coach Prosper Narteh and his charges must be cautious of the threats his opponents pose, with winger Evans Osei Owusu and Emmanuel Keyekeh being in some good form ahead of this fixture.
■ — TEAM NEWS
• After accumulating 3 yellow cards this season, forward Isaac Oppong and youngster Bernard Somuah Sarpong are both suspended for Sunday’s fixture.
• Nicholas Osei-Bonsu is back in group training after missing our last game, however, on the way to full recovery, midfielder Michael Kyei Dwamena has been in individual training sessions and continues to be unavailable.
• We will once again miss the services of Richmond Lamptey through injury and left-back John Tedeku, who limped off in the game against Bechem United and is yet to train.
• Sherif Mohammed (midfielder) will be out after undergoing a successful surgery.
■ — MATCH OFFICIALS
Former FIFA referee George Mawuli Vormavor will officiate his first Asante Kotoko since the opening day fixture against Heart of Lions when we drew at home.
• Referee: George Mawuli Vormavor
• Assistant referees: Tijani Mohammed and Eric Ndebugri
• Fourth referee: Jacob Aduntera
• Match commissioner: William Quaye
■ — MATCH DETAILS
• Date: Sunday, April 21, 2024
• Venue: Baba Yara Stadium
• Kick-off: 3:00 pm
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