By Dennis Osei Gyamfi, GNA
Accra, Dec 12, GNA - Ghana's Kumasi Asante Kotoko will face their first real test in this year's Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Confederations Cup against Kenya's Kariobangi Sharks on Saturday.
The match, fixed for Saturday, December 12, at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya, with the return fixture a week later at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
Kotoko, gained a walk over in the first round fixtures of the competition following a decision by CAF, to cancel the match after the Cameroun Football Federation (FECAFOOT) failed to submit its representative before the deadline.
Sharks on the other hand, cruised to a comfortable 9-1 aggregate win over Arta Solar of Djibouti to book a fixture with the record Ghanaian champions.
With the benefit of hindsight and following a disappointing bow to minnows, CARA Club of Congo in same competition last season, the Porcupine Warriors have done a lot of corrections to bolster their team this time.
Coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor's side have been augmented with the likes of former WAFA midfield dynamo, Umar Basiru and fellow midfielder, Martin Antwi, who joined the club from Inter Allies on a three-year deal after failing trials abroad.
Karela FC duo, Abdul Ishmail Ganiyu, a centre-back and Maxwell Baako, a midfielder, also signed the dotted lines for Kotoko on a three-year and two-year deals respectively.
The capture of Lusaka Dynamo FC of Zambia goalie Muntari Tagoe, left-back Abass Mohammed, midfielder, Kwame Bonsu, and Guinean striker, Naby Laye Keita, points out Kotoko's zeal to improve the side on all fronts.
Unlike their experienced opponents, the Sharks, winners of the 2018 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Cup, this is their debut campaign in continental footbal.
Sharks, who have only played two seasons in Kenyan top flight are upbeat about their debut campaign, but have been depleted by injuries to certain key members of the side.
Among the key players likely to miss Kotoko's game for Sharks through injury are central defender Geoffrey Shiveka, right back Eric Juma and striker Eric Kapaito, voted Kenya's best player last season.
Midfielder Sven Yidah and goalkeeper John Oyemba, have both returned to training after a long spell recovering from injury, and coach William Muluya will be happy with the experience they bring to the team.
New signings Tom Teka brought in from Nzoia Sugar and left back Nickson Omondi signed from second tier side Kenya Police are expected to slot straight into the team on Saturday.
Altough there is no active football competition in Ghana, management of Kotoko have made more than enough investment in preparing the team thus far, which gives the squad no room for excuses to fail against their inexperienced underdog opponents.
Again the team looks in good shape and they seem to be in great team spirit with references to their recent friendly games if that is anything to go by.
The big question is of what everything the Sharks have achieved in their sudden rise to prominence, should it be enough to tame the former multiple African champions if they want to roar?
Coach Akonnor has been given a target to reach at least the group stage of the competition and with almost every component of his team available for selection, a positive result away could be just what they need for a good omen in this campaign.
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