Boateng raises his hand at United
Kissi ready to take baton from exhausted attackers
SuperSport United utility man Richard Kissi Boateng has breathed new life into a worn-out team as they look to gain traction in their Premiership Soccer League campaign.
The former Ghana international joined Matsatsantsa a Pitori at the start of the season as a free agent from Liberty Professionals in Accra.
A majority of the SuperSport players appear physically and psychologically fatigued after a long and arduous journey of reaching the CAF Confederation Cup final.
They lost 2-1 on aggregate in the final to Boateng’s former club TP Mazembe, where he played from 2013 to 2017.
In their goalless league draw against Orlando Pirates on Tuesday, players such as Thuso Phala, Aubrey Modiba and Jeremy Brockie seemed to be dragging heavy legs.
Boateng says he is ready to carry the attacking burden when the team needs him.
“I am here to help the team achieve its targets and I think we have enough quality,” Boateng told Sowetan.
“The team did well to get to the final, and as you can understand, some of the guys are exhausted ... so I am ready to step up.”
Although the 29-year-old is being used as a left-wing-back at Matsatsantsa, he has played as an attacking midfielder and attacking winger throughout his career.
At the DR Congo giants Mazembe, he was most effective playing in midfield. Boateng admits to being frustrated watching SuperSport lose to a team he knows so well in the two-leg final.
“I wish I was there on the pitch because I know their strong and weak points.
“I did tell my teammates about a few things but during games people see things differently,” he added.
During his four years at Mazembe, Boateng won the CAF Champions League (2015), Confederation Cup (2016), Super Cup (2016) and domestic league twice (2014 and 2016).