Samartex coach Christopher Ennin not surprised by players’ performance after Kotoko victory

Head coach of Samartex Christopher Ennin is not surprised by the performance of his players following victory against Asante Kotoko in the Ghana Premier League.

The Timber Giants cruised to a crucial 2-1 away victory over the Porcupine Warriors, after the resumption of the match at the Baba Yara Stadium on Tuesday morning.

The fixture had initially been abandoned due to heavy rain with the score at 0-0, but upon resumption, Samartex took control of proceedings.

Christian Agyenim Boateng opened the scoring in the 54th minute, before Samartex capitalized on their numerical advantage to seal victory in the 80th minute through Emmanuel Essien.

The hosts managed to reduce the deficit late on through Albert Amoah, but it proved only a consolation as Samartex held on for all three points.

Speaking after the match, Ennin stressed he is not surprised by the performance of his players after shocking Kotoko at their own backyard.

“We put in a lot of work during training and rehearsed thoroughly. We knew Kotoko would come with a power play, so we decided to stick to our strengths. I’ve watched Kotoko play many times, and after the earlier game was rained off, we used that opportunity to study their first-half performance.

“After going seven matches without a win, we knew we had to turn things around. At one point, I had to motivate the players, and they also lifted me when they sensed I was getting down. I’m not surprised by their performance. They promised to fight for me and remain disciplined against Kotoko. They learned from the previous seven games and executed this game plan perfectly.”

For Samartex, the win lifts them to sixth place, strengthening their push for a top-four finish as the season heads into its final stretch.

The result has significant implications for the league standings. Kotoko remain fourth on 43 points after 28 matches, missing the chance to close the gap on leaders Bibiani Gold Stars, while Medeama SC and Hearts of Oak occupy second and third respectively.