Asante Kotoko coach Karim Zito sets sights on FA Cup glory

Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s head coach, Abdul Karim Zito, is determined to lead his team to victory in the MTN FA Cup semifinal against Berekum Chelsea on Sunday.

Zito emphasised the importance of winning the title, which Kotoko last lifted in 2017.

“I know what it [winning the trophy] can do for you as a coach. It’s been long since we won one of the cups, I think we are all eager to win and I know it will not be easy for us, it will be very difficult,” he said.

The match is scheduled to take place at the TNA Stadium in Tarkwa at 18:00 GMT.

Berekum Chelsea, led by coach Samuel Boadu, who has won the MTN FA Cup twice with Hearts of Oak, will provide a tough test for Kotoko.

Zito, who won the MTN FA Cup with Dreams FC in the 2022-2023 season, will be looking to add another trophy to his collection.

The MTN FA Cup is known for its unpredictability, with lower-tier teams often causing upsets against top-flight clubs.

Recent winners include New Edubiase United, Ashanti Gold, Bechem United, Medeama SC, and Dreams FC.

The most recent champions, Nsoatreman FC, won the 2023/24 trophy by beating Bofoakwa Tano 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the University of Ghana Stadium.

The competition provides a platform for clubs from different divisions to compete against each other, with 44 Division 2 clubs, 48 Division 1 clubs, and 18 Premier League clubs participating every year.

This diversity and unpredictability make the MTN FA Cup an exciting and highly competitive tournament in Ghanaian football.

Asante Kotoko defeated Acceler8z, Eleven Wise, and True Democracy to reach the last four of the competition.