Kotoko is too big to rely on a referee – San Pedro player

Saaba Gariba, a Ghanaian who plays for Ivorian side San Pedro after yesterday’s game described the officiating in the game as a bad one.

Gariba after the game said the penalty that was given to Kotoko was “scheduled” as it was clear that the referee was afraid of the fans. “They said he [the referee] is one of the best in Africa” but from what happened he is not, he told Fox FM in Kumasi.

Before the first half which was played on Sunday, “our coach told us that if Kotoko does not score in the first fifteen minutes, then Kotoko won’t be able to score.”

Unfortunately for them, the game was called off due to the heavy downpour in Kumasi on Sunday.

“We knew they were going to put pressure on us in the first half since it is their home.”

“The one-nil is not a bad scoreline,” he said.

“We created more chances than them but our strikers were not clinical upfront.”

Comparing the two clubs, Gariba said “Kotoko is one of the biggest clubs in Africa but who knows San Pedro,” he asked.

“But they were happy when the referee was favouring them.”
Gariba is optimistic that they can turn the scoreline in Ivory Coast in the second leg.