"He was one of the best players, if not man of the match" - Hearts of Oak MD Delali Anku shields Osei Asibey despite costly mistake in Kotoko defeat

Managing Director of Hearts of Oak, MD Delali Anku-Adiamah, has lauded defender Kelvin Osei Asibey for his strong performance despite his costly error that led to the Phobians’ defeat to Asante Kotoko in stoppage time.

The defeat, which came in the 13th match of the Ghana Premier League season on Sunday at the Baba Yara Stadium, saw Kotoko extend their winning streak over Hearts to four games. Albert Amoah’s dramatic last-minute goal, following a defensive mix-up involving Asibey and goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, sealed a 1-0 victory for Kotoko.

However, Anku-Adiamah refused to place blame solely on Asibey for the loss, insisting the mistake was part of a broader situation on the field.

“You can’t just look at the mistake. It came way up the field before it got to the defense. Let’s look at the whole situation — what happened from the middle to the back. Kelvin was one of the best players, if not man of the match. Some of the tackles and clearances he made were amazing,” Anku-Adiamah said in an interview with Kessben FM.

In addition, the Hearts MD recommended Asibey for a call-up to the Black Stars, praising his recent performances.

“Black Stars should look at Asibey because he is an amazing player. Mistakes can happen, so let’s not judge a player by just one mistake,” Anku-Adiamah added.