Young Apostles head coach Asare Bediako expressed both pride in his team's performance and his views on the potential of coaches and players from Kumasi.
His side drew 1-1 with Asante Kotoko in their Ghana Premier League matchweek 3 encounter at the Len Clay Stadium with Emmanuel Antwi cancelling out Daniel Lomotey's goal in the second half.
Reflecting on the match, Bediako described the draw as a significant achievement for his young side. “Young Apostles is a young team, and that is why I was excited about drawing with Asante Kotoko," he remarked.
"It felt like a win for us. We studied them before the game and prepared our players mentally, so I believe we deserved more than just a point.”
His comments sparked intrigue when he reiterated the importance of having local talent in the Kotoko setup. “Yes, I said Kumasi needs Kumasi. It’s not only about coaches but also players. We had northerners who were born in Kumasi and raised in Kumasi who played and coached Kotoko very well,” Bediako said.
He believes that the inclusion of homegrown talent is crucial for the success of Asante Kotoko. "At least there must be four regular players playing for Kotoko," he stated. "I’m not saying those outside Kumasi are not good. Players from Kumasi are performing exceptionally well all over the Ghana Premier League."
While some may have interpreted his comments as a veiled ambition for the Kotoko coaching position, Bediako clarified his stance. “The point I was making was not specifically about coaches. I’m not saying I want to coach Kotoko, but I can coach Kotoko and be successful,” he emphasized.
Asare Bediako has managed clubs like Aduana Stars and Berekum Chelsea and Bamboutos FC in Cameroon.
