Medeama SC coach laments tight match schedules and conditions

kwame

July 28, 2016 10:56 AM

We are going through hell with traveling and tight match schedules - Prince Owusu.

Owusu laments that his players go through stressful traveling routines within and outside the country to honour their matches. The Mauves and Yellows are in contention for the league title and aiming a semi-final berth in the Confederation Cup.

The Tarkwa based side bagged their first win to move to second place with five points in their group after beating Tanzanian side, Young Africans 3-1 on Tuesday at the Sekondi stadium in their fourth group match.

Medeama after 48 hours of recording the propelling victory over Yanga, returns to Tarkwa to host Aduana Stars in their match day 22 league game on Thursday. The club have two outstanding league matches to play on Sunday and next Wednesday against Techiman City and Wa All Stars respectively, both of which involve long journeys from Western Region to the Brong Ahafo Regions.

The team will be on the road again to Tema to battle Inter Allies on match day 23 on Sunday, August 7. From Tema, Medeama comes to their adopted home for African football, Sekondi stadium to play T.P. Mazembe on August 14. And they will have another outstanding league match for been engaged in the Confederation Cup.

This compact fixture schedule is what's disheartened Prince Owusu and he reckons this has been an hellish experience for his players.

"We've gone through hell. We've been traveling since I came here. We start a journey from Tarkwa to Accra, immediately we get to the airport we board a plane for about five or six hours to get to where we going. It's not been easy.

“When we come back we have outstanding matches that we have to play. Especially look at this week, we have Thursday, Sunday, and Wednesday and then we play T.P. Mazembe. It's not easy".

He again says that though tight match dates are common in football, the conditions in Africa do not make it prudent to follow the path of the Europeans.

"You tell me is football, they do that in Europe but let me tell you in Europe from point to point is flight for about thirty minutes and they get there. When they get there, there is a bus ready to pick them up to their comfortable hotels and everything is there for them to relax, even medication for them but here is not".

Despite his disappointment, Owusu commended his players for enduring bodily and psychological stress to ensure they remain good competitors.

Owusu stated he has adopted rotational policy in his team selection to avoid injuries and keep his entire team in shape. His decision, however does not go done well with his fans who expect the regular players to be named in matches.

"I really appreciate what the boys are doing. The load that they taking on them is a lot but we are managing it in a way. My supporters in Tarkwa don't like it because I don't put out the whole set (regular team) out there every day. I try to manage it so everyone get a part to play. I'm doing that with the team and they are not getting it but I know I am on the right path.”

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