Kumasi King Faisal have lost the chance to make a maiden appearance in the CAF Confederations Cup finals but their technical brain Oti Akenten says he is proud of the achievement of his players.

Club national Public Relations Officer (PRO), Eric Osei Akwasi aka Big Akwes, backed the coach’s compliments for the players but blamed the nation’s sports authorities for Faisal’s inability to advance to the finals.

The PRO insisted that the refusal by the authorities to allow Faisal to use the Baba Yara Stadium for their matches against FAR Rabat and AS Marsa rocked their boat.

“Accra was not favourable to us. We lost to FAR and struggled to beat AS Marsa there. It would have been a different story if we had used Kumasi”, he told the Graphic Sports.

In praising his players, coach Oti insisted that for a team so young on the continental scene, it was a remarkable feat to compete alongside giants like FAR Rabat and occupy a respectable second position with a game to go.

After beating Guinean side Fellow Stars 2-0 in Kumasi to move on nine points, four adrift of group leaders and finalists, FAR Rabat, Oti said the future looked great for the Faisal team.

Indeed the Ghanaians did not disgrace themselves, especially judging by the odds that stacked against them, even before they embarked on the journey to Africa.

With a support base, which is nothing to write home about, it surprised many the way club President, Alhaji Karim Gruzah managed to gather resources to meet the huge financial commitments in Africa.

Attendances at King Faisal matches have not been anything impressive. At times you can count the fans yet Alhaji Gruzah backed by the CEO, Mr George Amoako, persevered and moved on to compete in Africa.

Regrettably Faisal would have to look for money to travel to far away Tunisia to face AS Marsa in the last match of the group, the result of which would not change the top.

Against Fello Stars last Sunday, I shook my head in disbelief when I entered the stadium at about 2.30pm. The stadium was virtually empty.

But in the face of all these problems, the players put up their best and walked away with a 2-0 win.

The 0-1 loss to FAR Rabat in Morocco a fortnight ago, sounded the death knell of Faisal in the competition and that might have affected their performance in last Sunday’s match, even though they won.

It was not a typical Faisal display of total football last Sunday but they did what was most important by scoring the goals.

Right from the blast of referee Segonge’s whistle, Fello Stars who were playing for academic purposes, rallied to punch holes in Faisal and it looked like the Guineans were going to reverse the first leg 1-0 loss to Faisal.

An attacking force of Yahuza, Gawu and Sumaila had always been a huge potent force both locally and in Africa and it remained a surprise the way the Guineans swept them off with nonchalant ease.

But when they got into their strides, Gawu and Yahuza showed the stuff they possessed.

Gawu scored a brilliant opportunistic goal and manufactured the other for strike partner Yahuza to score the second.

Story by Kwame Asare Boadu