Resurgent Asante Kotoko will kick off match day 9 of the 2015/16 GPL as hosts of a regional derby against bottom-placed New Edubiase United at the Baba Yara Stadium on Saturday.
Asante Kotoko are back on a smooth ride after picking two straight wins against Liberty Professionals and Dreams FC in the league, and are vowing to add Edubiase to their list of casualties.
Stand-in coach, Michael Osei has supervised over the club’s recent form. He, in an interview with Kumasi-based radio station Kessben FM said, although the club is winning, they are taking it coolly as the matches come.
“They [players] are all ready and are working very hard. We won’t entertain any form of complacency. We are taking it game after game.
“Our next game is against Edubiase, so we will focus, concentrate and make sure we will get a win,” Osei said.
The camp of Edubiase however seemed tight-lipped on what they make of their clash against the Porcupines, and ready to unleash what is hidden under their sleeves on the match day.
The Bekwai-based club has always been a tough customer and a hard nut for the Red Devils to crack.
Both clubs have met 12 times in the league, with their first encounter coming off on the 23rd of December 2009.
They have three (3) wins each and six (6) ending in a stalemate – 29 goals have been produced in those clashes. Kotoko has scored 15 of them and allowed in 14.
Edubiase is yet to pick an away win in the league, played four (4), lost three (3) and drawn (1). They are winless in their last ten (10) away visits.
Interestingly enough, their last away win was a 1-2 victory against the Porcupines in June last year. Since then, they have failed to register a single win in the league.
The visitors in their last four away travels have scored only one goal and conceded four.
Asante Kotoko on the other hand, have drawn two (2) and won two (2) of their four (4) league games played at home.
Since losing 0-3 to Berekum Chelsea at home last season, they have won six (6) and drawn two (2) of their eight (8) league matches played.
Edubiase has conceded in all of their away matches played this season whiles Kotoko have kept two clean sheets at home.
Coming into this match, the visitors perfectly know a defeat for them will further send them drowning deep into the mud of relegation whiles the Red Devils will want to win convincingly and serve as a morale booster for their crucial encounter against their bitterest rival, Hearts of Oak on May 2.
Kickoff is at 6:15pm.
