Asante Kotoko assistant coach Hamza Obeng says the Porcupine Warriors have regained their confidence and are ready to return to winning ways when they host Karela United in the Ghana Premier League on Thursday, October 1.
Kotoko head into the Matchday 5 encounter at the Baba Yara Stadium looking to respond to their disappointing 2-0 defeat to Aduana FC last weekend, their first loss of the 2026/27 league campaign.
The defeat came shortly before the club parted ways with head coach Eric Tinkler, who left on September 28 after requesting an immediate release from his contract for personal reasons.
Diogo Peral, who was the assistant coach under Tinkler, has since assumed responsibility for the technical team on an interim basis, with Obeng continuing to provide support as the club searches for a permanent solution.
Tinkler’s four league matches produced one win, two draws and one defeat, leaving Kotoko with five points from their opening four matches.
With the club now navigating a period of transition, attention has turned to Thursday’s home fixture against a Karela United side that defeated Hearts of Oak 1-0 in their last outing.
Obeng, however, believes the players have responded positively to the setback and are mentally prepared for the challenge, insisting the work done in training has restored confidence within the squad.
“We’ve learned a lot from what happened last time. The players are okay now after speaking to them and getting back to training, and they’ve revived a lot.”
Hamza Obeng, Asante Kotoko Assistant Coach
Kotoko Target Defensive Improvement
Kotoko’s start to the campaign has exposed some defensive concerns, with the Porcupine Warriors conceding in all of their four league matches so far.
Obeng said the technical team has used the training period to address those shortcomings and believes the players are beginning to understand the tactical demands being placed on them. “Tactically, we’ve been working on that and we’ve rectified our mistakes and the guys are also adapting to whatever we want them to do,” he explained.
The assistant coach also provided an update on the squad’s fitness situation, revealing that more than 20 players are currently available to train, although several remain sidelined through injury ahead of the visit of the Pride and Passion.
Kotoko Hold Better Record on Home Soil Against Karela
Kotoko will also draw confidence from their strong home record against Karela.
The Porcupine Warriors have won three and drawn three of their six previous league meetings with Karela at home, meaning the visitors are yet to secure a victory in this fixture.
Despite Karela’s most recent success against Hearts, Obeng is confident Kotoko can impose themselves on Thursday. “With the tactical aspect that we’ve worked on at training and the material we have at the moment, we have the confidence that we are going to win this game,” he said.
Hamzata Calls for Maximum Effort
Kotoko deputy captain Musa Hamzata also acknowledged the disappointment surrounding the defeat to Aduana and urged supporters to return to the stadium as the team seeks an immediate response.
“It wasn’t what we were expecting and we would like to say sorry to the fans. They showed up and we would like to make amends this coming Thursday. We will score for them and they should show up at the stadium.”
Hamzata, Asante Kotoko Defender
The defender expects a difficult contest against Karela, particularly because of their confidence following their victory over Hearts.
Karela have already shown that they can frustrate opponents away from home though they are yet to pick up a point in away fixtures this season after two attempts while their 1-0 victory over Hearts will give them additional belief heading into the encounter.
Hamzata believes Kotoko must therefore match their opponents’ intensity and maintain their composure throughout the contest. “We need to put much effort. We need to go 150% tomorrow to win the game. We know they are a stubborn side and we will do our best to win,” he added.
Kotoko’s third home game of the season therefore carries significance beyond the three points. Following a win and a defeat in their previous two home fixtures, the Porcupine Warriors will be looking to restore momentum while adapting to life under interim leadership.
For Peral, Obeng and the Kotoko players, Thursday’s encounter represents an opportunity to turn the disappointment of the Aduana defeat into a positive response. Karela, meanwhile, will arrive with confidence of their own after their impressive result against Hearts.
With both sides carrying different forms of motivation into the contest, the Baba Yara Stadium is set for a crucial Matchday 5 encounter.
