Benjamin Asare reminded everyone that his position as the Black Stars’ number one goalkeeper is no fluke. When Hearts of Oak visited their perennial rivals Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, all eyes were on Asare after Winfred Schafer, the Technical Advisor of the Black Stars of Ghana and Director of Football for the Ghana Football Association, revealed that he is the best player in the Ghana Premier League ahead of the huge clash.
Otto Addo and his technical staff, including the German tactician Winfried Schafer, were at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to witness the game, which added a little pressure on the Hearts of Oak skipper to deliver to tell his bosses that he remains the number one.
Benjamin Asare, as usual, lived up to his hype and organised his defence well. Emmanuel Amankwah’s red card gave Kotoko a numerical advantage, but the Porcupine Warriors could not bounce back due to Asare’s super performance in the game.
Phobia’s head coach, Didi Dramani, praised his skipper and disclosed that he has nothing to prove to anyone at this moment after the game.
“I have nothing to describe about his performance. “It is for us to continue to do things that will help us, things that will keep our players in better shape. He has nothing to prove to anyone – that he’s the number one of the Black Stars or Ghana’s number one.
“We just have to know how to manage him in terms of his workload. Sometimes we try to deload, and we have capable hands to do that as well. So, for me, that is the standard we’re expecting,” Mas-Ud Didid Dramani added.”
Hearts of Oak played with 10 men for more than 60 minutes in Kumasi, yet won 1-0 against their beleaguered opponents thanks to Baba Adamu’s header in the 15th minute.
Phobia are now five points behind leaders Medeama, who drew at home against Aduana Stars. Hearts of Oak will host Berekum Chelsea, where they will expect to win all three points to pile much pressure on Medeama, who travels to Samraboi to face Samartex.
