THE MTN FA CUP FINAL SHOWDWN

Writer:: Amoah Kofi

Twitter:: @milikykophy

Facebook:: Miliky-Amoah Kophy

One of the most prestigious cup in Ghana is the FA CUP, now sponsored by telecommunication giant MTN, dabbed MTN FA CUP. The competition started way back in 1958 and this season will be the 37th cup since its inception. The competition went dead in 2001 after Asante Kotoko won the last edition defeating Real Tamale United (RTU) by a lone goal. It later resurrected in 2011, taking a ten year break and has stayed on till now. The porcupine warriors, Asante Kotoko will face Tarkwa base Medeama at the Essipong Sports Stadium in this years MTN FA CUP final.

This will be the second time they are meeting in the same event and the third time this season. Kotoko lost to Medeama in 2013 at the Accra Sports Stadium when Samuel Anorbaah connected in a cross to beat Soulamah Abdoulai with few minutes to end the game. This, in a way will seem a revenge for Kotoko to appease their fans with at-least a trophy and avenge that painful defeat suffered in 2013. Medeama, who also won their first major trophy then in the club's history will definitely want to repeat the same dose on Kotoko.

Performances from both clubs in this season's First Capital Plus Bank Premier League hasn't been that convincing but fortunately for Kotoko, they seemed to have step on the gas and found the missing pieces along the way as they are unbeaten in their last five matches in the league whiles Medeama has only 1 win, 2 loses and 2 draws in their last five matches. Very sketchy for Medeama I should say but cup finals mostly have different stories to tell.

Very unfortunately, Medeama's leading goal scorer in the league, 25 year old Nathaniel Ohene Asamoah, who has 18 goals to his credit won't be playing a part as reports has it that he has landed in Morocco to undergo a medicals and subsequently sign a 3 year deal with Raja Casablanca, which makes him the third Ghanaian after Yakubu Mohammed and Awal Mohammed who has already signed with the club. This is what head coach Tom Strand said when he was asked about the absence of Nathaniel Asamoah, "hope that someone will  step up and have the courage and skills to surprise everyone".  He further added that "we are now together again to prepare for the match on Sunday. We will try and start well and comeback solidly". Spokesperson of the club Benjamin Kesse also said in an interview that "the absence of Nathaniel Asamoah could be a blessing in disguise for other players. We have alot of strikers in our team, the likes of Benjamin Bature and Akwesi Donsu who is currently the leading goal scorer in the FA Cup are all there to hold on to the forts" he said.

At camp of Asante Kotoko, the story is different as their captain Amos Frimpong, striker Dauda Mohammed and goalkeeper Eric Ofori Antwi won't be available for selection all in a bit to represent the country in the All African games scheduled in to take place in Congo Brazzaville. Former FC Nania player Prince Baffoe popular known as "Hulk"  or "Tropical" who now plays for Kotoko said in an interview with Kumasi base radio station Fox Fm that "we have talked to each other very well and this time around we are not going to allow what happened in 2013 to repeat on Sunday". This will be his fourth FA cup final on Sunday. He won it with Nania FC in 2011 defeating Kotoko, lost in 2013, and won it again with Kotoko last year. Kotoko's supporters chairman popular known as "Chairman K5" preached peace on the other hand saying "hooliganism in football should be done away with. You being harassed and beaten at one league center doesn't meant you should replicate the same on your opponent. I have forgiven them and no need to reply. Let's troop to the stadium and watch the game in peace". He was saying this in connection to alleged reports that he was beaten by Medeama supporters in week 21 when Kotoko played them in a reverse league fixture.

In the last 5 editions of the FA Cup, Asante Kotoko has played in 4 finals (2001,2011,2013 & 2014) but has won 2 of it (2001 & 2014). In total, they have won 8 FA Cup and has ended as runners-up 4 times. The club with the most FA Cup trophies is Accra Hearts of Oak. They have won the competition 10 times and 5 times as runners-up. Followed by Kotoko. Next, is Real Republicans with 4 FA Cups trophies and closely matched by Great Olympics with 3. If Kotoko are able to win on Sunday, it will be the second time of winning the trophy back to back since 1976 and 1978. Previously, there has been three clubs to have won the trophy on a back to back scenario. Asante Kotoko in 1976 & 1978, Real Republicans in 1961 & 1965 and Accra Hearts of Oak, distinctively on four occasions. Asante Kotoko has scored a whopping 15 and conceded only 2  goals en route to the finals, 7 more than Medeama who has 8 goals to their credit.

Sunday's match will be nothing short of excitement, near misses, speed, cruise control, midfield battle, defense splitting passes, tailor measured crosses and excellent showing of agility with powerful shots to beat both goalkeepers. At the back of the minds of both teams, there is an African spot for grabs. Whoever wins on Sunday automatically qualify 's to play in  Africa come next season. In addition, they take home 40,000 Ghana cedis and an extra 50,000 for their preparation to play in Africa. Runner-up takes away 15,000 Ghana cedis.

With their impressive and excellent football displayed through their qualifiers to the finals, I won't be missing this game for anything and hope you also don't.