Asante Kotoko midfielder Jackson Owusu received a major blow ahead the upcoming season when a friendly kick about with friends popularly termed as “Sunday Special” turned sour after he entered into a challenge and came out worse with a broken shin.  The injury comes at a time the entire playing body of Kotoko were given days off ahead of the season.
The injury is expected to see the midfielder miss the entire duration of the season. Coaches, managers and ex-players have all reacted to this unfortunate incident.

DEPUTY OPERATIONS OFFICER OF KOTOKO, ALI MARADONA REVEALS THE HAMMER BLOW BY SAYING JACKSON WILL BE SEEN NEXT YEAR

“He has had a surgery and it was successful. We told the players to rest and coach Duncan told the players to rest on the 14th (February) because we have a match the following week. Jackson played the Sunday special on his own will. When we got there, we could see Jackson was in pain. We faced a similar situation with Larbi Koomson last season. To Larbi’s defence, it happened at our training grounds. But for Jackson, it happened when the coach had told them to rest. It is worrying. The doctor told us Jackson is going to be out for about eight months. We can rule him out of this season. So if we are expecting Jackson, then it should be next year.”

DAVID DUNCAN ADMITS HE HAS LOST A KEY PLAYER BUT DISAPPONTED BY THE MANNER THE INJURY CAME ABOUT

“Jackson is a key member of the team. He is a key member of the team, very integral. We have to find someone to replace him in his role. The manner in which the injury happened is disappointing. He was not playing for the club or training. He was playing backyard football. Interestingly, on Saturday when I released them after training, I told them between then and Sunday under normal circumstances, it was not supposed to be free for us as a team. But I’m letting the team take a very long rest, they must rest adequately for the task ahead. I told them the night is meant for sleep and the day for rest. So I am releasing them to go and sleep in the day so the day was not meant to do any other thing.”

STEPHEN APPIAH BELIEVES TIGHTER POLICIES SHOULD BE PUT IN PLACE BY CLUBS

“We don’t have to wait for this or that to happen. But if the team has warned you not to play or train then anything that happens should be blamed on you. I can only advice the player. Knowing the league will be starting in a week’s time, playing Sunday Special or Monday Special should be out of the picture because anything can happen. When I was in Europe, we were given a program schedule as to what to do. In Ghana here, it is different. I can’t blame the player that much. When I was in Juventus, we were asked not to eat biscuit or chocolate otherwise we will be fined. It all goes down to policies. We have to make these policies work in our Ghanaian clubs and be firm on them.”

JACKSON'S MOTHER IS PLEADING ON HIS SON'S BEHALF

“I was very saddened with the news of his injury as he had informed me he was running some few errands at nearby town, Maakro. The zeal and enthusiasm with which he has been talking about the 2015/16 season got me more emotional after I was informed Jackson had broken his leg and won’t play a part in the new season,” she told Kumasi based, Boss fm. “We regret the incident and humbly apologise to the traditional owner of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the management of the club and to please forgive my son (Jackson Owusu) for the unfortunate incident. We ask the fans and all lovers of football to please say a word of prayer for him each time they kneel to pray,”

IBRAHIM SUNDAY FEELS THE PLAYER, WHO FLOUTED SIMILAR RULES, SHOULD BE PUNISHED

“Once this isn’t the first time a situation such as this has happened, he should be punished. Discipline has to prevail in the team. When you are home, you should think about the good of yourself and the team. He deserves to be punished. He will not indulge in this again because the effect on him has been huge.”'

 

Injuries are inevitable in the sport but Jackson’s injury could and should have been avoided. However the harm has already been done. It is our wish and prayer he comes out of this better and stronger and continue with his fine form for the Porcupine Warriors.

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