Top 3 Asante Kotoko players to watch in the second round of the Ghana Premier League.

Ahead of the second round of the Ghana Premier League, record champions Asante Kotoko Sporting Club made two key additions to their squad and loaned young goalkeeper Fatao Seidu to division one side Future Stars Football Club.

Former striker Abdul Fatawu Safiu joined the Porcupine Warriors on a free transfer. The experienced forward signed a year deal with Asante Kotoko Sporting Club with an option to extend for another year. In defense, Nsoatreman Football Club right back Emmanuel Nii Quaye Kotei also joined Asante Kotoko Sporting Club for the next two and half seasons.

The inclusion of Emmanuel Nii Quaye Kotei at the right back position will prove pivotal as three out of Asante Kotoko Sporting Club’s right backs are injured, including Augustine Agyapong, Samuel Asamoah formerly of Bofoakwa Tano Football Club, and Fusieni Isahak. Fan Favorite Justice Blay also extended his contract and it runs till 2025.

After the first round of the 2023/24 season, Asante Kotoko Sporting Club finished third in the Ghana Premier League with twenty-nine points after seventeen games. Asante Kotoko Sporting Club won eight games, drew five games, and lost four games in the first round. In the MTN FA Cup, Asante Kotoko Sporting Club is in round 16 after eliminating regional rivals Nations Football Club and Bibiani Gold Stars Sporting Club in rounds 64 and 32 respectively. They will face Karela United Football Club in round 16 at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale.

Asante Kotoko Sporting Club emerged as the team with the most away wins (4) and with the most away goals (12), 50% of the 12 away goals were scored by the star boy from Kampala, Uganda Steven Dese Mukwala.

As the second round of the Ghana Premier League resumes on 25^TH – 28^TH February 2024, below are Becks Media Online’s top 3 Asante Kotoko Sporting Club players to watch out.

1.STEVEN DESE MUKWALA: There are high hopes for the Ugandan forward to continue his fine form in the second round for the Porcupine Warriors. In the first round, the former Vipers Sporting Club forward scored eight goals and provided one assist in fifteen games of the first round of the Ghana Premier League, and in the MTN FA Cup, Mukwala scored two goals and provided an assist in two games.

2.Richmond Nii Lamptey: the midfield dynamo had an impressive first round for Asante Kotoko Sporting Club. In twelve games that he featured for Asante Kotoko Sporting Club in the Ghana Premier League, the mercurial midfielder provided five assists. In the MTN FA Cup, Richmond Lamptey scored a goal against Nations Football Club at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi. His outstanding earned his debut call-up to the Black Stars of Ghana’s 27-man squad for the 34^th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. Unluckily for Richmond Lamptey, he didn’t feature in any of the three group-stage matches for the Black Stars of Ghana before their elimination from the tournament.

3.Frederick Asare: The Asante Kotoko Sporting Club’s second-choice goalkeeper has emerged as one of Asante Kotoko Sporting Club’s players to watch in the second round of the Ghana Premier League. Frederick Asare had a slow start to the campaign and lost his position to captain Danlad Ibrahim. After conceding some horrible goals, Frederick Asare regained the starting breath and has been impressive since. His impressive performances earned him Ghana Premier League goalkeeper for the month of December. Asare kept seven clean sheets in the first round.

 

Baba Yahaya, Enoch Morrison, Nurudeen Yusif, Justice Blay, and some other players were impressive in the first round of the Ghana Premier League and will play a major role as the team hopes to clinch their 27^th league title, 10^th MTN FA Cup, and ninth President Cup trophy which will be against Ivorian Side ASEC Mimosas on 5^TH March 2024 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium Kumasi.

Asante Kotoko Sporting Club will start their campaign in the Ghana Premier League at the Hohoe Sports Stadium against Kpando Heart of Lions Football Club Limited.