Kotoko head coach Karim Zito says teams raise their intensity whenever they face Asante Kotoko, insisting the pressure of playing the Porcupine Warriors motivates opponents to give more.
Basake Holy Stars displayed remarkable grit on Wednesday afternoon as they handed Kotoko their first defeat of the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League season in their rescheduled Week 3 clash.
Zito said in his post match interview that teams raise their game when they face Kotoko, and that the pressure and excitement around such games push opponents to their best.
“If Holy Stars had played all their games the way they played today, they wouldn’t be at the bottom. But it’s Kotoko, every team wants to beat us,” Zito said after his side’s unexpected 2-1 loss.
The match was fiercely contested from the start, with both sides creating promising chances in the first half but failing to break the deadlock. Four minutes into the second period, Richmond Somiah fired the hosts ahead with a calm finish, igniting excitement among the home fans.
Kotoko, however, responded almost immediately. Striker Kwame Poku struck in the 53rd minute to restore parity and tilt the momentum in favour of the visitors. They continued to push aggressively for a winner, but Holy Stars remained resilient.
Then came the late twist. Deep into added time, Prince Tweneboah produced a decisive strike to seal a memorable win for Holy Stars and stun the Porcupine Warriors.
The victory moves Holy Stars to 9 points, bolstering their hopes of escaping the relegation zone. For Kotoko, the defeat was costly. It ended their impressive 10-game unbeaten streak, leaving no undefeated side in the Ghana Premier League.
Kotoko remain on 20 points and sit fourth on the table, three points behind leaders Aduana. Their next challenge is a difficult home fixture against third-placed Medeama, a match that could have significant implications for their title ambitions.
Source: 3news.com
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