It means a lot – Prince Owusu reflects on first win as Kotoko interim coach

Interim head coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Prince Owusu, has described his first victory in charge of the Porcupine Warriors as deeply significant, following a hard-fought 2-0 win over Young Apostles in Wenchi.

The result came as a timely response after Kotoko suffered a painful 1-0 defeat to arch-rivals Accra Hearts of Oak in the previous round. Owusu, who stepped up from his role as assistant head coach following Abdul Karim Zito's resignation, expressed what the triumph meant to him personally and professionally.

"It means a lot.

"This is my first win; definitely make people recognise what I can do," Owusu said.

He acknowledged the pressure that had built within the squad after the Super Clash loss but credited his players for responding positively to instructions.

"There was pressure after the Hearts loss; the players felt it, so we tried to talk to them to forget about the pressure and then concentrate on the formation that we wanted to play," he explained.

"They listened to us, and it worked perfectly today for us."

The victory propelled Kotoko from fifth to fourth place in the Ghana Premier League standings, reducing the gap to league leaders Medeama SC to seven points. Medeama currently sits atop the table with 45 points.

For Owusu, the result not only lifts the team's morale but also serves as a statement of intent as he seeks to establish himself in the role and keep Kotoko's faint title hopes alive.