Asante Kotoko head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum has attributed his team’s recent 1-0 defeat to Hearts of Lions in the Ghana Premier League to fatigue, following a grueling travel schedule and a heavy week of fixtures.
In a tightly contested match at the Len Clay Sports Stadium on Sunday, a single first-half goal from Kwadwo Obeng Jr.
was enough for Hearts of Lions to secure victory over the Porcupine Warriors.
The result marked Kotoko’s second league defeat of the season, and Coach Ogum didn’t hesitate to point to the impact of travel fatigue on his players’ performance.
Reflecting on the game, Ogum expressed frustration over the toll taken by the recent schedule, which saw the team covering extensive distances across Ghana for three matches in seven days.
I think we looked slow; we looked very slow; we looked very tired on the field,” he said after the match.
I think it was the stress of the journey.
From Kumasi to Anyinase, it takes about 9 hours. We played on Sunday.
Ogum explained that his team’s challenging travel demands had impacted their readiness and energy on the field.
After playing an away match in Anyinase, Kotoko endured a nine-hour trip from Kumasi, followed by a 10-hour journey to Accra for a midweek match against Legon Cities.
Just days later, they traveled back to Kumasi before making the journey to Obuasi for the weekend fixture.
According to Ogum, these back-to-back journeys left little time for rest and recovery.
“We then travelled another 10 hours to Accra to play on Wednesday against Legon Cities,” he detailed. “From Wednesday, we had to travel all the way from Accra to Kumasi.
So it’s three games in seven days, and you could see that they were tired.”
Although Ogum was careful to avoid appearing to make excuses, he emphasized the visible toll that the schedule had taken on his squad.
I don’t try to make excuses, but it is so obvious,” he admitted. “Look at the journey to Anyinase, 9 to 10 hours.
I think it was fatigue on our part.”
The defeat has come as a setback to Asante Kotoko’s ambitions in the league.
After a promising start to the season, the back-to-back losses have raised concerns about the team’s depth and resilience under the pressures of such a demanding schedule.
Ogum, however, remains optimistic about their capacity to bounce back, and he views the team’s upcoming match against Bechem United as an opportunity to regain momentum.
Ogum’s comments have also highlighted a broader challenge faced by Ghanaian clubs, who often endure extensive travel across the country due to the league’s logistics.
The constant movement, coupled with a tight schedule, puts extra strain on players, impacting their physical readiness and potentially affecting match outcomes.
For Kotoko, Ogum emphasized that managing player recovery will be crucial if they are to overcome the setbacks of the past week.
Asante Kotoko will face Bechem United in their next league fixture in match week 10, a crucial matchup in their quest to return to winning form.
The team will need to regroup quickly, with Ogum likely focusing on optimizing player recovery and fitness in the lead-up to the game.
With both fans and management expecting a positive response, Kotoko will aim to reset their momentum and avoid further setbacks.
The upcoming match could serve as a turning point for Kotoko, as they look to address fatigue and maintain their competitive edge in the Ghana Premier League.
For Ogum and his squad, this next test will not only gauge their resilience but will also serve as an opportunity to put recent struggles behind them and realign with their ambitions for the season.
