Justice Nkuku Blay, a beloved midfielder for Kumasi Asante Kotoko, made his first appearance following his recovery in a friendly match.
Owing to a court injunction halting the 2022–2023 BetPawa Premier League, Asante Kotoko and Techiman Liberty contested a friendly match on Wednesday morning.
At the beginning of the BetPawa Premier League’s second round, Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum had the midfielder resigned back to the league champions.
Justice Blay’s re-signing with Asante Kotoko on a two-year contract was formally confirmed by the team via a club tweet, which read: “We have re-signed midfielder @JusticeBlay_ on a 2-year deal. He’ll be eligible to participate in the 21/22 season from February 1, 2022. Blay will be unveiled before our game against Medeama at Baba Yara Stadium tomorrow.”
The tireless midfielder, known to the fans as Chief Justice, had been with the team since the second round until suffering a knee injury at the Adako Jachie Training Complex as the squad prepared to meet Accra Hearts of Oak at Baba Yara Sports Stadium in a battle scheduled for week 24.
On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, Blay underwent surgery to treat his knee injury, and his anticipated return to competition was two to three months later.
On Monday, October 10th, 2022, Justice Blay announced his injury situation on his official Twitter handle, @JusticeBlay, he stated, “Excited to be back for group training with the squad, thanks to the club officials, technical team, teammates, medical team, supporters etc for the support. Only One Fabulous!”
He made his debut game appearance for Seydou Zerbo as the current coach on Wednesday in the second half of a friendly match against Techiman Liberty. By a score of five to one, Kotoko prevailed.
In addition to Dickson Afoakwa, Emmanuel Sarkodie, Patrick Asmah, Ricky Dwamena, and many more members of the team, Justice Blay made his debut in the game.
Eric Zézé, Steve Mukwala, Oppong Neymar, Ricky Dwamena, and Patrick Asmah are the team’s goal scorers.
