Newly appointed Asante Kotoko captain Gilbani Samba O’niel has admitted that taking on the captaincy role comes with immense pressure, but remains confident in his leadership qualities to guide the team towards success.
The Porcupine Warriors are set to represent Ghana in the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup, having secured their place by defeating Golden Kick FC 2-1 in the MTN FA Cup final at the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon.
Speaking to the club’s media team, O’niel acknowledged the high expectations of the club’s passionate fanbase and assured that he is ready to lead by example, inspire his teammates, and work relentlessly to meet the club’s ambitions.
I was having pressure for the first time ,but i thank God everything is going the good way .
I know a lot of things is waiting for us. And our supporters are waiting for us too.
Sometimes I dont need to talk , I just need to do ,they will know our leader is doing this and we have to do this .
So this season we need to work extra hard for the three competitons.
Since my first day here in kumasi ,they are always with me so I wish we continue like that. They should continue to support me .
Gilbani, who joined Kotoko in the 2023/24 season, quickly established himself as a commanding presence in the heart of the defence. His consistency and leadership both on and off the pitch earned him the armband following the departure of former captain Richmond Lamptey.
Kotoko will begin their Confederation Cup journey in the preliminary round, with fixtures expected to kick off in August. The club is currently in pre-season, preparing under new head coach Abdul Karim zito, who is expected to rebuild the squad for continental and domestic success.