Kotoko coach cries over unfair officiating after Heart of Lions defeat

Following their 1-0 loss to Heart of Lions in the opening game of the second round of the 2023/24 Ghana Premier League season, assistant coach for Kotoko David Ocloo emphasised the need for fair officiating in post-game comments.

Ocloo congratulated Heart of Lions for their determined performance but expressed concerns about the level of officiating in the match.

Godfred Kwadwo Asamoah scored the lone goal of the tie in the 52nd minute, leading to Kotoko’s defeat. To compound the issue for the Porcupine Warriors, Nicholas Mensah received a red card six minutes after the conceded goal.

In a post-game interview, Ocloo acknowledged the opponent’s performance but called for improvement in refereeing standards, stating, “If we want football to go forward, our referees have to be up there, they have to be fair.”

Reflecting on Kotoko’s performance, Ocloo admitted the team’s wastefulness and pledged, on behalf of the technical team, to work on finishing in subsequent games.

“We created some decent chances but we were not able to score, and when you have chances and you don’t score, your opponents will punish you. I think we will go back and work on our finishing once again and come good,” he added.

The 2021/22 champions currently sit fourth in the league standings, while the Lions climb to 15th.

In contrast, Heart of Lions’ coach Bashir Hayford expressed confidence in facing the Kumasi-based side, highlighting his past experiences against the team. He commended his players for their determination and emphasised that Kotoko, despite being a big team, should not be considered unplayable.

Kotoko now shift their focus to the next game against Bibiani Gold Stars at the Baba Yara Stadium, aiming to bounce back to victory in the Ghana Premier League.