Kwame Baah- ‘Keeping Asante Kotoko posts is nothing but a matter of hard work’ |

Asante Kotoko are among the few clubs on the African continent blessed with quality goalkeepers at disposal this season, with the Ghanaian giants having in their rank former Black Stars assistant goalkeeper Felix Anann, prominent Osei Kwame and current Black Meteor first choice Kwame Baah.

This would be a hurdle for any coach to climb in a given season and Asante Kotoko aren’t immune of the consequences associated with keeping more than one top quality shot stoppers at the club at a time.

Any decision to pick one ahead of the other in post during Match Day means the other’s emotions and confidence coming down week in and out. At the worse, it could lead to conflict among the keepers, and to the extreme worse, hatred develops among those quality keepers.

Asante Kotoko look to be suffering from these troubles as reports in Ghana have indicated there are such problems between club’s first choice Anann and second choice Kwame Baah who currently mans the posts for Kotoko.

There are several factors that can turn someone a regular sticks-keeper but the two most cited reason explaining Kotoko’s situation are perceived relationship with coach Maxwell Konadu and one’s (keeper) current form, and that of associated with the previous factor highlights merit of a goalkeeper keeping the posts regularly based on manager’s favor and sentiment- which is generally considered unprofessional and ‘not football’.

Most Kotoko supporters have taken stance that Maxwell Konadu is not on good terms with Anann, given Kwame Baah the chance to keep the posts in recent times.

But the former Inter Allies shot stopper has revealed something different from what some supporters already know, lamenting his regular in the post is due to his performance not coach’s influence.

When asked in an interview with Nhyira FM sports about his relationship with first choice Felix Anann, Baah smelled no beef against his competitor and couldn’t disappoint Kotoko supporters when he was called for the opportunity offered.

“My form and keeping the posts here (at Kotoko) this moment is all about hard work. Felix is my senior and the first choice goalkeeper but I couldn’t disappoint when I got the chance to keep the posts.”

“The challenge to keep manning the post came after I featured in the win against Hearts of Oak.

“Some fans said a whole lot of things but they have come to the understanding that it’s all about hard work and determination.”

The Black Meteors keeper struggled at Kotoko during his first four months after joining the Porcupine Warriors from Inter Allies in July 2019 and had took over the posts as first choice since leading Kotoko to beat traditional rivals Hearts of Oak in Week 6 of the Ghana Premier League back in January 2020.

Baah was the keeper who earn Ghana Local team a second place in 2019 WAFU tournament in Senegal before leading U-23s of Ghana to a fourth place in the 2019 Egypt Africa U-23 Cup of Nations failing to book a spot in summer’s Tokyo Olympic games.