Kotoko coach fumes over ‘predetermined’ draw with Karela

Kumasi Asante Kotoko head coach Abdul Gazele lashed out at match officials following his side’s 1-1 draw against Karela at Kumasi. The Porcupine Warriors saw their early lead cancelled deep into the game leaving their coaching fuming afterwards.

Speaking to the media after the match, the coach decided to fire salvos at the match officials for decisions which he said made the match results look “predetermined”.

“I don’t usually like discussing officiating officials, but today I feel compelled to speak up,” the young coach began.

“Because based on what’s happening, it seems like this result was predetermined before the match as if the technical teams are influencing the outcomes. Take, for instance, the substitution I made, if you don’t understand the game it may appear as if I simply handed the match over,” he fumed.

Additionally, he called out the officials for their calls in the game saying some of the decisions were very wrong. “Imagine someone blatantly handling the ball and you only give them a card while the player who was fouled, you claim it was normal or too late to give them a second yellow card”.

He added that “It is unfortunate that things unfolded this way, and I believe that some of the decisions made on the pitch were not correct”. 

Mohammed Rashid turned into his own net just before the half mark to give Kotoko the lead until Fatawu Mohammed Fatawu levelled the scores later in the second half. The draw leaves Kotoko in fourth with 48 points with two games left to play. They have lost the title already with Medeama taking control at the top by four points with two matches left.