Kotoko Coach defends Mbella over penalty miss

Asante Kotoko Coach Prosper Ogum has jumped to the defence of striker Franck Etouga Mbella after the Cameroonian missed two penalty kicks in the second half of the 1-1 draw against Aduana Stars in Kumasi on Sunday.

The 20-year-old attacker has been hailed by Fabulous fans for his stunning 38th minute belter, but ended the match-day 28 fixture in a disappointing fashion after becoming the first player to miss two spot kicks in a single game this term.

Coach Ogum attributes Kotoko’s profligacy to ill luck and insists Etouga Mbella must be encouraged to regain his confidence after missing those two penalties in the 62nd and 81st minutes.

“We were just not lucky, that’s all. He (Etouga Mbella) has been playing very well and he’s been scoring but once he missed, I encouraged him that it’s part of the game. And, this is not the first time he’s missed a penalty. I think he did that when we went to Elmina Sharks,” Coach Ogum told Startimes in a post-match interview.

“He scored a good goal, a fantastic goal. We could have gone up by 3 nil. We don’t have to worry our heads so much about it because it’s game over. All that we can do is to encourage the young man so that in subsequent games, he can give us the best that he has been giving us,” the ex-WAFA trainer added.

The ex-AS Fortuna de Mfou goal-monger now has 19 goals in the Ghana Premier League, 3 ahead of closest contender Yaw Annor of AshGold, who has 16 goals and 5 ahead of 14 goals rich Aduana Stars forward Bright Adjei, who scored a late header against Kotoko on Sunday.