Champion-of-Champions: Kotoko coach Karim Zito talks tough after GoldStars win

Asante Kotoko recovered from their GHALCA Top 4 blip to conquer Gold Stars in the Champion-of-Champions on Sunday – appeasing the supporters who travelled to catch a glimpse of the clash.

The Porcupine Warriors had failed to collect a point in the GHALCA Top 4, a performance that left fans and the club’s hierarchy asking questions about coach Karim Zito’s men ahead of the next domestic and continental campaign.

Karim Zito and his technical team provided the answer at the Duns Park when newly signed defender, Musa Hamzata’s 68th minute goal helped them lift the trophy.

Karim Zito said: “The GHALCA Tournament, the timing was very bad for us not for the other clubs because when you look at our schedules, immediately after the league we played the FA Cup, we played the President’s Cup and then we travelled.

“All this while the other clubs were there resting so we were in the complex phase of the pre-season when we started playing matches so definitely I wasn’t anything too good from my boys.

“I told them look, I trust in you, I know what you can do, we can go and win the Champion-of-Champions and there is one thing I kept on saying, you can’t beat Karim Zito twice.” He added.

Asante Kotoko added the Champion-of-Champions cup to their trophy cabinet after clinching the FA Cup, the 2025 President’s Cup and the Toyota Cup against Kaizer Chiefs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Gold Stars will play against Algeria’s JS Kabylie in the CAF Champions League Preliminary stage with Kotoko pitted against Kwara United in the Confederation Cup.

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