Kotoko coach Prosper Narteh lauds Andrews Appau & Maxwell Agyemang after showing trust in duo in Gold Stars win

Asante Kotoko head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum has praised the performances of young defenders Maxwell Agyemang and Andrews Appau following the win over Gold Stars on Friday.

Isaac Oppong’s second-half strike was the difference on Friday afternoon at Dun’s Park but Kotoko were forced to cling on in the final third of the game as the Miners pushed hard for an equaliser.

Razak Abalora was Kotoko’s man of the match, making a string of superb saves to keep the hosts at bay.

But Appau and Agyemang playing their first game together and also their debut this season helped the club to keep a clean sheet.

Maxwell Agyemang was a surprise inclusion in the starting XI, drafted in for his Premier League debut with captain Abdul Ganiyu unavailable due to his assignment with the Black Stars and a technical decision to bench Mubarik Yussif who had started the first two games with Ganiyu.

In a post-match interview, Ogum was impressed with the performances of the young duo, insisting they now have some vital Premier League experience under their belt.

“I think they were fantastic. They had the basic responsibility of preventing their [Gold Stars] attack, especially Owusu [Prince] from playing, and that’s exactly what they did so kudos to them and I am proud of them, I gave them the opportunity and they were able to prove that they were capable”

The win on Friday kept Kotoko on top of the league log after three wins from three games.

The Porcupines will now face Eleven Wonders at the Baba Yara Stadium on Saturday in a matchweek four encounter.