“We anticipated a tough battle against Elmina Sharks” - Aduana coach “We anticipated a tough battle against Elmina Sharks” - Aduana coach

Robert Tachie Menson, GNA

Dormaa Ahenkro (B/A), Oct. 16, GNA - The head coach Aduana Stars Yusif Abubakar has described their penultimate duel with Elmina Sharks in Match Day 29 in the GPL, as very tough, since it brought an unprecedented pressure on the players, management and supporters of the club.

He said they were confronted with the burden of psyching the players up to see the match as a final match to guarantee their successful annexation of the league trophy and qualification to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League.

"I knew that having beaten them in their own backyard, which is very unusual at this level and also in the first division, they will come in very strong with a defensive mindset.

"So I knew from the onset, it will be very tough and difficult to break into their defensive set up and even if you are able to break into it, it will be difficult to take our chances because everybody was panicking.

"So I told the players they should capitalise on this to launch counter attacks", he added.

Speaking in a post match interview, coach Abubakar was quick to add that, although the match brought pressure on the players, management and supporters, they were able to maintain their composure throughout the game.

"Naturally, this type of matches come along with pressure. But I tried to keep my composure as showing the mood that i was under pressure could negatively affected the players pattern of play.

"This showed as we were well able to cancel out the one goal deficit, we conceded in the first half,” he added.

Aduana beat Elmina Sharks by two goals to one (2-1) at the end of the match.

He said it was a defensive blunder which led the team to concede the only goal from Elmina Sharks.

Coach Abubakar gave credit to the management, supporters and media for contributing to the success of the team.

"If you don't have the ability to contain the criticisms from people of Dormaa, you will not succeed. I have used this criticism to stay mentally tough," he added.

Explaining the secret behind his success he said, they had planned not to lose their first five matches, lose their home matches and were determined to stay between the first and third positions throughout the playoffs.

"This showed as we were usually in the first and second position all the time and the plan worked to perfection", he stated.

He promised to give Ashgold a tough encounter in the final round of matches of the season.

GNA

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