Asante Kotoko midfielder Enoch Morrison set sight on Hearts of Oak clash after win over Bechem United
Asante Kotoko midfielder Enoch Morrison has set his sight on Ghana Premier League clash with rivals Hearts of Oak this Sunday. The midfielder returned to the starting XI and gave his side the much needed 3 points.
The midfielder was adjudged Man of the Match in Kotoko’s 1-0 win over Bechem United at the Baba Yara Stadium on Wednesday, March 1 2023.
Enock Morrison scored the only goal of the game in the 21st minute, finding the back of the net with a powerful strike to give Kotoko the lead.
Bechem United tried to mount a comeback, but the Kotoko defence held firm, and the home side held on to secure all three points.
Morrison believes the win is a boost for the Porcupine Warriors, and also gives them the confidence they need ahead of their big game against arch-rivals Hearts of Oak on Sunday in Accra.
He told StarTimes: “We needed these points very badly. We came in fully prepared and very mentally tough that all cost we need to get all 3 points. It will ginger us and motivate us in our next game. It’s a big match but it’s not that big for us. We are capable. We know what we can do so we are ok.”
Kotoko’s next game is against Hearts of Oak in the capital and a clash doubling as the 2023 Presidential Cup final. The winner will be crowned champions of the President’s Cup and Morrison will have a big part to play this weekend.
Since joining the Reds at the beginning of the season, Morrison has been unstoppable with Seydou Zerbo pushing the former King Faisal man further ahead of the pitch.
Morrison was initially deployed in central midfield but he now operates from the right side of attack easing him on the cut-ins. It was one of such typical instances Morrison gave Asante Kotoko all three points in Wednesday’s game in Kumasi.
After the team broke on attack on 3 against 4 situation, George Mfegue who was in central position switched a pass locating Morrison on the right edge before the former King Faisal forward cut-in to his favourite left and fired a carpet shot to bottom corner.
That has become Morrison’s hallmark since he was deployed in that position but sometimes he offers the through ball after the necessary runs have been made from either Steven Mukwala, George Mfegue or Richmond Lamptey
Hearts of Oak must be aware of this and find ways of dealing with Morrison’s cut-ins. The left footed man is one of the likeliest source of goal in Sunday biggest clash.
Kotoko’s victory over Bechem United send them to second position on the Ghana Premier League log 5 points below leaders Aduana Stars who drew goalless with King Faisal in Dormaa Wednesday.
Ahead of their clash. Great Olympics boss Bismark Koby Mensah had tipped Hearts of Oak as favourites for the Ga Mantse derby.
“We haven’t gotten the best of preparation because I had just five days of training with them and a new coach has come”, Koby Mensah told Happy FM.
“The Olympics have also gone three games without a win or the necessary results. When a team goes several games without a win, their confidence suffers. We are going into this game as underdogs, but at the end of the day, it’s not an excuse, and the team wants to win”.
“We want to get a good result in this game,” he concluded.
But Great Olympics shocked Hearts of Oak after beating the Phobians 1-0 at Accra Sports Stadium in Wednesday’s late kickoff. The loss leaves Hearts of Oak 6th place heading into game against Asante Kotoko.
Given Hearts current position, Enoch Morrison’s comments may be justified enough though the points gap between Kotoko and Hearts is just 3.
