Kotoko coach wants strikers to be clinical

Stop-gap Coach of Asante Kotoko, Prince Yaw Owusu, has raised concerns over his side’s lack of cutting edge in attack after the team failed to score in their last three matches.

The interim boss admitted that the inability of his strikers to convert chances in the final third had become a worrying trend, insisting that urgent steps must be taken to address the situation.

Speaking after the team’s recent outing, Owusu described the goal drought as a major concern, emphasising that Kotoko could not afford to continue dropping points due to poor finishing.

“It is a big concern for me, definitely. Two games with no goals in the net are a little bit concerning, so we are going to work very hard on it,” he said.

The coach disclosed that he had already intensified training sessions with the forwards, focusing on improving their composure and efficiency in front of the goal.

According to him, the technical team was also working closely with midfielders to enhance the team’s attacking build-up play.

“We have done our programme, and it’s in there that we have to spend some time doing the finishing and build-up in front so the strikers will get the ball into the net,” he explained.

Yesterday Amoah made a return to the team as he played in their 0-1 loss to Hearts of Oak at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Owusu further pointed to the absence of key player Laud Amoah as a contributing factor to the team’s struggles in attack. The coach noted that Amoah’s injury deprived the side of width and overlapping runs, which are crucial for creating scoring opportunities.

“Laud is coming back. He has started training with us. We saw the absence of Laud a lot — the overlaps were not coming, and the crosses were also not coming as well. Maybe it’s the cause of the goals not coming,” he added.

Despite the current challenges, Owusu remains optimistic that Kotoko will rediscover their scoring touch once the injured players return and the attacking unit regains confidence. He stressed that the team were working tirelessly to correct the lapses and deliver improved performances in upcoming fixtures.