Abdulai Gazale, the assistant coach of Asante Kotoko, expressed his frustration after their week 32 match against Karela United, describing the result as a “predicted outcome.”
The game, held at the Baba Yara Stadium on Monday, May 29, ended in a 1-1 draw, much to Gazale’s disappointment.
“Usually, I refrain from discussing officiating officials, but today I feel compelled to speak up,” Gazale stated. “Based on what I observed, it seems that this result was predetermined before the match even began. It appears as though technical teams are influencing the outcomes of games.”
He continued, “Take, for instance, the substitution I made. If you lack an understanding of the game, it may seem as though I simply handed the victory to the opposition. Furthermore, imagine someone deliberately handling the ball, and yet they receive only a cautionary card. On the other hand, when our player was fouled, it was considered normal or too late to issue a second yellow card.”
Gazale expressed his disappointment with the decisions made on the pitch, stating, “It is regrettable that things unfolded in this manner, and I firmly believe that some of the decisions made during the game were incorrect.” He shared these sentiments with StarTimes.
Despite squandering numerous scoring opportunities, Asante Kotoko took the lead in the 28th minute when Mohammed Ganiu inadvertently deflected Solomon Sarfo Taylor’s low cross into his own net. However, Karela United managed to equalize through Fatawu Mohammed in the 81st minute, resulting in a draw at full time.
Asante Kotoko, the record holders of the Ghana Premier League, currently occupy the 4th position on the table with 48 points. Their next match will be against Accra Lions in the capital, followed by their season finale against Dreams FC at the Baba Yara Stadium.
