Dramani and Zito React After Kotoko’s Narrow Win Over Hearts in Super Clash
ACCRA, GHANA — Tension continues to rise after Asante Kotoko’s 1–0 victory over Hearts of Oak in Sunday’s Super Clash at the Accra Sports Stadium, as frustrated Hearts supporters threaten to take the match referee to court over what they describe as “biased officiating.”
The fiercely contested encounter decided by Morifing Donzo’s first-half penalty ended Hearts’ unbeaten run this season and reignited debates about officiating standards in the Ghana Premier League.
Speaking after the match, Hearts of Oak coach Didi Dramani expressed disappointment with the result, insisting that his side’s performance did not merit a loss. “We lost, but I think we don’t deserve to lose,” he said. “If you really observed the game, you could see that we controlled large portions. In some moments, Kotoko were dangerous in their transitions, and that’s an area we want to improve.”
Dramani also questioned the penalty call that led to Donzo’s decisive goal, suggesting that the decision was harsh. “We were controlling the game when the penalty came and honestly, I still have my doubts about it,” he noted.
“We train to be bold and defend situations like that better. It’s something we’ll keep working on.”
Despite the setback, the Hearts boss maintained a positive outlook, emphasizing the long season ahead. “It’s a marathon season. Every game is treated with the attention it needs, and we’ll make amends,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kotoko’s coach Abdul Karim Zito praised his players for their tactical discipline and resilience in securing the win. “Everybody knows how difficult this game is even from my days as a player,” he said. “The mindset was simple: if we want to achieve our season’s target, we had to win this game. I’m very happy we did.”
Zito revealed that his team’s penalty came from a planned tactical switch to exploit Hearts’ defensive weaknesses.
“We studied them and realized they were strong on one side,” he explained. “We switched Amidu and Sakadouda to pressure Amankwah Baafi that’s where the foul came from. It worked exactly as we planned.” On the controversial penalty, Zito stood by the referee’s call: “Whether it was a penalty or not depends on the referee. As coaches, we know the laws sometimes it comes down to technical judgment.”
Zito concluded by praising his players’ focus and reaffirming his confidence in Kotoko’s title ambitions.
“This win gives us momentum. It shows we are serious contenders,” he said.
Tempers flared after the final whistle as several Hearts of Oak supporters accused the referee of bias and vowed to take legal action. “The goal was the goal of the year the referee was jealous, that’s why he didn’t collect it,” one angry fan expressed. “We’re going to take the referee to court. He’s partial. Anytime he officiates, we never win.”
Another fan lamented the repeated officiating controversies in the league: “The officiating wasn’t fair. Referees bring our game down. Why should police rush to protect them after matches? We need VAR — how much is it that we can’t afford it?”
The outburst reflects growing frustration among Hearts fans, who believe officiating errors continue to undermine fair play in the Ghana Premier League.
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