Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko—the two titans fought to a goalless draw a scrappy affair that yielded Kotoko a vital point on enemy turf but left the sparse crowd, including the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Adams in the VIP Box, yearning for more.
This was no spectacle. The clash, the fourth between these bitter rivals since December 2023, lacked the fire of their recent encounters, all won by Kotoko.
Instead, it was a cagey, tactical stalemate, with both sides barely potent in attack. Kotoko, the visitors, probed but found Hearts’ defense at times in the game, anchored by the towering Benjamin Asare in goal, impenetrable.
The Black Stars goalkeeper’s sharp saves stifled Kotoko’s advances, earning him the quiet admiration of the thinly spread Phobian faithful.
For Abdul Karim Zito, Kotoko’s interim coach, the draw was a bittersweet footnote in his remarkable record. Having replaced Prosper Narteh Ogum as technical director and stepped into the hot seat, Zito extended his unbeaten streak against Hearts to eight matches across various clubs.
Still, with Kotoko sitting fourth, just three points behind leaders Nations FC with four games left, Zito’s eyes remained fixed on the ultimate prize—a record 25th league title for the Porcupine Warriors.
“We squandered too many chances. We should have won, but we weren’t clinical enough… I still stand by my target of winning the league, even if our chances look slim. Until it’s over, we’ll keep fighting.” He said in post match.
“My target is to win the league, and we are going to fight till the last game,” he vowed defiantly after the match.” He added.
Hearts, lie 6th, clung to the point as a sign of grit after their recent struggles against Kotoko. But their blunt attack exposed frailties that could haunt them as the season neared its climax.
The low turnout at the stadium mirrored the game’s lack of spark, yet the presence of Hon. Kofi Adams underscored the fixture’s weight.
The SuperClash left the title race tantalizingly poised. Kotoko’s point, hard-earned on rival soil, kept their dream alive. Zito, unyielding, rallied his warriors for the battles ahead, knowing the league crown was still within their grasp
Zito will face his former employers Dreams FC whom he left last month in Kumasi on match day 31 next weekend.
