Kotoko’s 2026 Ghana Premier League opening act has been nothing short of a disaster. For three weeks, Karim Zito has lamented the loss of his ideal midfield combination due to injuries.

However, when Hillary Adabo, Seth Kwadwo, and Hubert Gyau finally became available, Zito seemed unsure of how to utilize them effectively against Swedru All Blacks.

Ahmed Fathi, the All Blacks coach, outsmarted Zito by instructing his players to vacate the wide areas and drop deep in the buildup, creating a six-man defensive wall that Kotoko failed to breach.

Kotoko’s shape remained unchanged, with Peter Amidu Acquah staying wide and Philip Amoh dropping deep occasionally, but they struggled to create clear-cut chances.

In the first half, Kotoko managed only one shot on target, courtesy of Peter Amidu Acquah’s effort in the 40th minute. The second half followed a similar pattern, with All Blacks dropping deep and Kotoko failing to capitalize.

Zito now has his preferred midfield combination available, but the team still needs more goals. Kotoko’s top scorers, Hubert Gyau, Donzo Morifing, and Peter Amidu Acquah, have all scored just four goals after 17 matches.

Kotoko’s pursuit of a center forward, particularly Rudolph Nana Kwesi Mensah, makes sense. However, the All Blacks have indicated that the player is not for sale under any circumstances.

Despite this, Kotoko’s entourage has informed the All Blacks that the Asantehene is interested in meeting with their president, Stephen Ato Quayson, to discuss the matter.

Sources close to the club have revealed that the board’s position remains unchanged, and they will only consider further talks at the end of the season.

All Blacks are currently ninth on the league table with 22 points, just four points above the drop zone. With half a season still to go, it would be unwise to sell their most valuable asset.

However, Kotoko’s domineering status cannot be taken for granted. If they really want to, Kotoko could make an offer that the club cannot refuse. Rudolph himself is interested in the move.

Even the board and club president may have a change of heart if the terms are too good to refuse. Ahmed Fathi has reiterated that Rudolph is not for sale, but the situation remains uncertain.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE