Asante Kotoko head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum has acknowledged that his team’s fatigue played a crucial role in their disappointing 1-0 home loss to Heart of Lions over the weekend.
This was Kotoko’s first home defeat and second consecutive loss in the Ghana Premier League campaign, which saw them drop to third place on the league table with 15 points, trailing leaders Bibiani Gold Stars by four points.
The defeat came after Heart of Lions’ forward Kwadwo Obeng Jr. seized on a faulty pass from Kotoko’s goalkeeper, Mohammed Camara, in the 28th minute, securing the win for the Lions in the Week 9 encounter at Obuasi’s Len Clay Stadium.
In his post-match comments, Coach Ogum reflected on Kotoko’s uncharacteristically sluggish performance, attributing it to the rigorous travel schedule that he believes left his players exhausted. He explained that the team had recently endured a grueling series of long journeys and matches, including a nine-hour trip from Kumasi to Anyinase and another ten hours to Accra within a single week.
“I think we looked slow and very tired on the field,” Ogum admitted. “Traveling from Kumasi to Anyinase took about nine hours. We played on Sunday, and by Wednesday, we were on the road again to Accra to face Legon Cities. Then, back to Kumasi. Three games in seven days—it’s clear the fatigue was affecting them.”
Looking to recover, Asante Kotoko will travel to Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park for their next league fixture against Bechem United.
