Kotoko coach Prosper Narteh blames Legon Cities loss on poor defending

Asante Kotoko coach Prosper Narteh Ogum has blamed his side’s defeat to Legon Cities to some costly errors committed by his defense.

The league leaders were defeated 3-1 by the visitors at the Baba Yara Sports on Sunday afternoon.

The victory is the club’s first over Kotoko since 2017 when they were known as Wa All Stars at the time.

Speaking after the game, Ogum blame the slow performance of the team for the defeat and also pointed out the defensive errors that contributed greatly to the loss but was confident his side will bounce back against WAFA next weekend.

“I can’t really tell…They looked so slow on the field of play, their movement wasn’t the usual movement. I can’t really tell what was actually wrong with them on the field. It’s a game over so we only have to make sure that we get back and do the right things for the next game.” – He told StarTimes in a post match interview.

He also added, “I think it’s just like one of the bad days at the office. I mean is one of the bad days on the field. Defensively, I think we allowed them spaces especially looking at the third man without the ball, we didn’t keep an eye on those players who acted as third players running without the ball and if you look at the second goal that we conceded, and then the third goal were photocopies of each other. I mean it was just a simple tap in and a simple header into the goal and in such positions you expect that the defenders should be there to clear their lines but they were not there. You see, you can be at a position but when you are there and you are not doing what defensively you are not supposed to do then you are just there to add up to numbers but I said, it has happened.”

“These are the very players who have played up to this level getting us to where we are now. You don’t blame them too much. I mean they’ve done their best on the field today but it wasn’t enough. As you said, probably I have to sit down with them and find out what the issue is. Apart from that, I think nobody should cut them into pieces. They should keep their heads up and chest out. Eight more games to go. We only have to focus and make sure that we win as many games as we can to move on,” he ended.

Despite the defeat, Kotoko maintain an eight-point lead at the top, but their advantage will be cut to five if Bechem United beat Karela United on Monday.