Bechem defeated us due to poor officiating – Kotoko coach Johnson Smith

On July 12, 2021, 3:39 PM

Asante Kotoko deputy coach, Johnson Smith, says his side lost the game against Bechem United due to poor officiating.

The Porcupine Warriors were hosted at the Nana Gyeabour Park on Sunday in the matchday 33 fixtures in a match they needed all three maximum points to be in the league title race.

The team suffered a painful 2-1 loss against the Hunters that confirmed arch-rivals Hearts of Oak as winners of the Ghana Premier League for the first time in over a decade.

Speaking after the game, the ex-Karela United gaffer stated he paraded the best squad at his disposal.

According to him, his squad played well only to be distracted by poor officiating, the only reason they lost the game.

He stated:

“It’s all due to the officiating because the dubious penalty he had for Bechem people dampened our spirit, that’s why.”

“The team we presented was a very good team, because of the injuries even Keyeke is injured but he was forced to play.”

The game saw Bechem United’s Steven Owusu grabbing a brace to mark his seventh goal of the season, including a 41st-minute controversial penalty.

The referee Jones Akubiem and his assistants have been criticised heavily for that call by some supporters.

Kotoko’s goal was scored by striker Solomon Sarfo Taylor who managed to capitalize on a goalkeeping error in the 34th minute.

Coach Smith led the Porcupine Warriors over the weekend due to the two-match ban against the head coach, Mariano Barreto.

Asante Kotoko will host Elmina Sharks at the Len Clay Stadium in their final fixture of the 2020/21 season on Sunday.

Story By kobby Asamoah/ k.boahene@theghanareport.com