Former Hearts of Oak captain Amankwah Mireku has revealed that Stephen Oduro was the most formidable player he faced in the Asante Kotoko team during his playing days.
Despite the presence of notable figures like Nana Arhin Duah and Ablordey, Mireku admits that it was the diminutive midfielder who posed the greatest challenge to him.
Ahead of this weekend’s highly anticipated clash between Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak, Mireku reminisced about a particular encounter in Kumasi where he had to devise a strategy to neutralize the threat posed by Oduro.
“There was this match where Oduro was playing in midfield,” Mireku recalled. “But then, during this Hearts-Kotoko match in Kumasi, when we lined up, he was positioned on the left wing. I thought to myself, ‘Why has the coach done this? What’s happening?‘”
Mireku knew he had to plan carefully to deal with Oduro’s capabilities. Within the first 15 minutes of the game, an incident occurred that ultimately led to Oduro’s premature departure from the field.
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“Godfred Yeboah, may his soul rest in peace, played a pass to Oduro,” Mireku explained. “As I approached him, trying to control the ball, I raised my leg slightly. At that moment, I kicked Oduro’s leg and the ball simultaneously. It wasn’t a foul because there was contact with the ball, but Oduro couldn’t continue playing. He went off within 15 minutes, and I had a good game.”
Amankwah Mireku, known for his composed and dominant performances for Hearts of Oak in the early 2000s, rarely allowed opponents to exploit his defensive prowess. Even the finest attackers found it challenging to create scoring opportunities through his channel.
As Asante Kotoko prepare to host Hearts of Oak at the Baba Yara Stadium in matchday 31 of the Ghana Premier League on Sunday, Mireku’s recollection serves as a reminder of the intense rivalry and tactical battles that have defined this historic encounter.
