FA Cup winning goal remains my best — Bancey By: Kweku Zurek

Kumasi Asante Kotoko striker, Seidu Bancey, says his late winner against Inter Allies in the MTN FA Cup final is the most important goal of his career so far.

Seidu Bancey ghosts way from his marker

Kotoko were drawing 1-1 with Allies in the second-half of extra time and the tie looked destined for a penalty shoot-out when Bancey struck in the 115th minute to hand the Porcupine Warriors victory.

The 24-year-old  told Graphic Sports that, the goal was all about anticipation and stamina not beauty.

“Last year we lost painfully in the final of the FA Cup to Medeama SC at the same venue, so we were determined not to fail again.

“This is the most important goal of my career as we couldn’t afford to go through the penalty shoot-outs. With that goal, my teammates and I made history by winning the first double for Kotoko” he added.

“The goal was a team effort and we used our experience and superior stamina levels to defeat Allies, Bancey stated.

The striker also distanced himself from rumours that had linked him to Sudanese club, Al Meirrekh, stating that he has a year left on contract with Kotoko.

Kotoko win MTN FA Cup

The Kotoko team celebrating their eighth FA Cup triumph

Kumasi Asante Kotoko made history at the Accra Sports Stadium yesterday after defeating Inter Allies 2-1 in the final of the 2013/2014 MTN FA Cup to complete their first-ever league and cup double.
The game was as close as the scoreline suggests, with Kotoko needing an opportunistic strike in the dying embers of the game as Seidu Bancey capitalised on a goalkeeping blunder in the 115th minute to score the match winner which secured them their eighth FA Cup trophy .
Kotoko opened the scoring in the eighth minute through winger Richard Mpong, who pounced on a weak header from Inter Allies defender, Stephen Owusu Ansah, and raced with the ball into the opponents’ half before firing an unstoppable shot past goalie Osei Kwame.
The Porcupine Warriors continued to dominate the exchanges in the first half with Allies content with occasional counter-attacking forays.
Allies returned a rejuvenated side in the second half and Coach Herbert Addo made his first substitution with Dauda Diop replacing centre-back Baba Mensah in the 50th minute.
The dominance of the league debutantes paid dividends when Talla Ndiaye levelled the tie with a sublime volley after a fortunate deflection in the penalty box.
Kotoko striker, Bancey, had a penalty appeal waved off by referee William Agbovi in the 69th minute before Allies replaced goal-scorer Ndiaye with Simon Martey in the 73rd minute as both sides ended normal time level.
In the first half of extra-time, Kotoko midfielder Michael Akuffo came close to scoring when his sublime free-kick rattled the crossbar after substitute Prince Baffoe was felled outside the penalty box.
Bancey’s 115th minute winner broke Allies’ hearts and sent Kotoko faithful into delirium when he reacted quickly to fire home after goalie Osei Kwame had parried a fierce drive from his Kotoko teammate Jordan Opoku.

Akaminko in US for surgery by Kweku Zurek.

Ghana defender Jerry Akaminko last Saturday was only a few minutes from making the final Black Stars' 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup when he injured his left ankle  the Ghana-Netherlands friendly in Rotterdam.

The Turkey-based defender even though ruled out of the mundial will travel with the squad to the United States to undergo surgery on his fractured left ankle after he landed awkwardly in an aerial challenge in the 90th minute.

Black Stars team doctor, Adam Baba, confirmed  that Akaminko would miss the tournament after a medical examniation on the ankle in Rotterdam last Saturday night.

“X-rays have revealed that there is a fracture to his left ankle joint-a fracture of the fibula bone. What will have to be done is surgery.

 “If surgery is done and depending on his rehabilitation we will give him at least three months to be able to fully recuperate and start playing”, Baba stated.

Meanwhile, Coach Kwesi Appiah has expressed disappointment after injury ruled out defender Jerry Akaminko from the World Cup.

“It is unfortunate that Jerry has got to face this,” Appiah told www.ghanafa.org.

“Looking at the training he  had with the team we had lots of hope for the World Cup.

“All we have to do, apart from the support we will offer him is to pray for him to come back stronger.”, he stated.

The president of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi, has also expressed his sympathy to the defender.

“This is a bitter blow for Jerry and the entire Ghana team. When he went down yesterday I felt something in my stomach. We all feel very sorry for him,” he said.

Accam gutted! by Kweku Zurek

David Accam-Dropped

Ghana and Helsingborg IF midfielder, David Accam has expressed disappointment at being left out of the Black Stars 23-man squad for the World Cup in Brazil.

The 23-year-old was axed together with Leicester City’s Jeffery Schlupp and the injured Jerry Akaminko but he believes his exclusion was because he was not given the opportunity to convince Coach Kwasi Appiah in the friendly against Holland.

The Right to Dream graduate  in a post on his official Facebook page said,  “It's been an honour to be part of the national team. I'm disappointed not to have been selected for the final squad, and not have the opportunity to prove myself against Holland, but that is finished now.

“When the squad was announced, I took the first flight back to Sweden and my focus is now 100 per cent on Helsingborg’s next game against Falkenberg. God knows best!”, he concluded.

Accam is yet to make his competitive debut for the Stars after receiving two call-ups including a starting role in a 6-1 drubbing over a local select side in a pre-World Cup friendly in Accra.