Steve Mukwala secured a win for Kumasi Asante Kotoko against Berekum Chelsea in match week 9 of the betPawa Premier League last Wednesday, the 21st of December 2022.
The Ugandan striker Mukwala, who has three goals on the season, has scored two goals for the league’s defending champions in their last three league games.
All three of Steve Mukwala’s league goals have been scored at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. The teams for which the Ugandan has registered goals in his rookie season are Kumasi King Faisal, Legon Cities, and Berekum Chelsea.
The Porcupine Warriors’ striker was chosen as the Most Valuable Player at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium last Wednesday afternoon after he assisted Eric Zézé to score in the 45th minute to tie the goal scored by Emmanuel Sarpong in the 27th second-half minute.
Steven Mukwala’s goal, which came off a free kick and was headed in, gave Kotoko the advantage in the 65th minute. He scored again, but this time the goal was overturned because he was ineligible due to being offside at the time.
In an interview with StarTimes following the game, Steve Mukwala said that he had dedicated his goal to Augustine Opoku, a Kumasi Asante Kotoko fan who had lost an eye in a shooting at Baba Yara in January 2020.
On January 12, 2020, Kotoko lost to Berekum Chelsea after Kofi Owusu scored the lone goal against them at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. As a result of the incident that resulted in Augustine Opoku being shot in the eye, police were forced to shoot irate Kotoko fans who had complained about the referee.
Mukwala recalled the incident as it happened and honoured Augustine Opoku, a supporter, with his winning goal against Berekum Chelsea.
“We came with a mentality of winning, so that is our target, and our coaches were emphasising a win, so we came into this game knowing we had to win; that is how we have to play to put up a good fight,” Mukwala stated.
When questioned about how the win against Berekum Chelsea will motivate the team, he revealed, “Basically, my ultimate goal is being a goal king and helping Kotoko win more trophies this season, and basically, this win we dedicate to our beloved fan who lost his eye in 2020.”
