The Head coach of Asante Kotoko, Abdul Karim Zito, has leapt to the defence of his strikers, Albert Amoah and Kwame Opoku, following growing speculation of friction between the two players during matches.

Reports have suggested a lack of cohesion and possible tension between the attacking duo, but Coach Zito has downplayed these claims, attributing their behaviour to healthy competition and individual ambition rather than personal conflict.

“Inasmuch as they sometimes show signs of selfishness on the pitch, I won’t subscribe to the notion that they are at each other’s throats or don’t see eye to eye,” Zito said in an interview last Saturday.

The 61-year-old former Dreams FC manager explained that what observers interpret as friction is the result of egos at play—common among goal-hungry strikers aiming to make a name for themselves at the club.

“With my experience, you should not tell me my strikers are fighting. I don’t believe in that. I believe in what they show here. To me, it’s not about loggerheads or rivalry—it’s about self-centredness,” he clarified.

Coach Zito revealed that he had engaged both players in private discussions, encouraging them to put the team first and work collectively toward the club’s success. He said the message had been well received and both players are gradually adjusting their attitudes.

“Everybody wants to score and that’s natural. I put it in the context of ego—an ego-driven player wants to win all the time. But I have told them, it’s Kotoko first before any individual. They are changing gradually,” he said.

In a related update, the coach expressed relief at the improving injury situation at the club. When he took over, over eight first-team players were sidelined with injuries but that number has now dropped to about three.

“For now, the injury situation is getting better than what I came to meet,” he confirmed. “At first, when you looked at the bench, more than eight players were out. Now it’s maybe three.”

Coach Zito concluded by calling on fans to continue supporting the team through its development phase and emphasized that their encouragement plays a vital role in boosting the morale of the players.