Soccer News of Tuesday, 11 January 2005

Source: GNA

Coach Oti Akenteng lands Faisal job

Accra, Jan 11, GNA - Coach Francis Oti-Akenteng, formerly of Obuasi AshantiGold and the National Under - 21 side, the Black Satellites has landed a new job with Kumasi based King Fiasal, a few weeks after losing his job with the miners.

Coach Oti-Akenteng who last week signed a one-year renewable contract with the club is set to conclude the contractual agreement by the close of this week.

The new coach is expected to lead Faisal from the technical bench to open their defence in this year's Top Four Tournament which is billed to commence on Sunday, January 23.

Coach Oti-Akenteng who has been training with the Kumasi-based club for the past three weeks, told the GNA Sports that his side was psyched for the Top Four championship which he said would be used as preparation for their continental assignment.

"The boys have cooperated very well since I arrived and everything is on course. We are very prepared for the tournament and only waiting for January 23 to prove to all of what we can do".

The coach who was thrilled by his new job, is convinced King Faisal has what it takes to successfully defend the trophy though he reckons it would be a tough assignment.

"We are capable of lifting the Cup again though I know it would be tough. Apart from the fact that both Hearts and Kotoko have had the best of preparation because of their participation in the Confederation Cup, our players are equally good as the others".

He told the GNA Sports that all the players have exhibited great commitment to training and expressed the conviction that his boys would find their rhythm when the six-week fiesta begins next Sunday.

Faisal is billed to play host to Confederation Cup winners, Accra Hearts of Oak in the first match at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.

The coach would aimed at killing two birds with a single bird - thus winning the trophy and using it to prepare for their Confederation Cup assignment which begins later in the month.