Kotoko Coach Prosper Narteh explains reason behind Dickson Afoakwa’s first half substitution

Asante Kotoko head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum has given his reasons why he substituted Dickson Afoakwa in their defeat to Legon Cities.

The Porcupines on Sunday suffered yet another defeat when they lost 3-1 to Legon Cities at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Hans Kwoffie’s brace and a goal from Michel Otou ensured the Royals picked the maximum points to Accra. Mudasiru got the consolation for the Reds.

But it was another less than convincing display from Dickson Afoakwa whose performance was met by displeasure from the fans.

The 24-year-old was replaced in the 35th-minute by Mudasiru Salifu who would eventually score Kotoko’s consolation.

Speaking to the press after the game, Coach Ogum stressed that Afoakwa was substituted because he was trying to prevent the winger from the angry Kotoko fans due to his level of performance on the afternoon.

“When you have a player on the field and the audience are getting on the player, you better protect the future of the player than allowing the audience finish him on the field and as a coach as I sit here, that’s what I saw. He has more years ahead of him to play football so I decided that because he himself was not getting things right and then the audience were on him so I had to make sure that I protect his future”

“If you really watch the game, tactically he was not giving us the options defensively and offensively and Attuquaye was moving in there anytime they get the ball, Attuquaye would just drag Nettey in and create that space there meanwhile, when he (Afoakwa) gets the ball, then he gives it out to them and as a player when you give the ball out what you do is you give immediate chase or pressure, he doesn’t give the pressure and they play the ball there. We get the ball, we give it to him and he gives it to the opponent, he’s confused on the field so if you were in my shoes what will you do, you protect the future of the player,” he ended. 

Asante Kotoko next travel to Sogakope to take on WAFA in matchday 27 fixture.