Sports News of Sunday, 15 May 2016

Source: sportscrusader.com

Osei hails Kotoko fighting spirit

Michael Osei Michael Osei

Kumasi Asante Kotoko interim coach, Michael Osei has hailed the fighting spirit of the playing body after their come from behind progress to the quarter-finals of the MTN FA Cup competition.

The Porcupine Warriors battled hard to eliminate third tier side, Storm Academy FC on penalties at the Nkawkaw Park on Saturday and Osei expressed satisfaction with the win.

He hailed the courage and fighting spirit of his charges in coming from behind to level the scoring before keeping their calm in the shoot-out to win it 5-3.

Twumasi Frimpong opened the scoring for the Eastern region Division Two side as they academy lads took a first half lead in anticipation of causing the shock of the round of 16 ties.

The Ghana Premier League (GPL) giants fought back gamely in the second session and were duly rewarded for their troubles as Bennett Ofori got them on level terms to throw the game into the luxury of penalty kicks.

Kotoko converted all their five kicks with the academy boys scoring three out of four to go out of the competition.

“I am hugely impressed with our progress to the next stage of the competition, we showed a lot of character and determination in coming back to record this win, “Coach Osei said after the game.

“The boys showed great fighting spirit against a very difficult side who were determined to cause an upset against a big club, and, kudos to them for fighting hard to redeem our image,” he added.

“We will now go and prepare for our next game, and, I am equally confident that we will produce a result,” the former Ghana international noted.

Kotoko, who trail leaders Hearts of Oak by four points in the GPL, will next play Bechem United away in on Wednesday as they mount pressure on those above them on the league log.