Operations Manager for Premier League side Bechem United Francis Addae has expressed deep concerns over Asante Kotoko’s ‘late departure’ to Sudan ahead of their opening group match against Al Hilal Omdurman on Sunday, which could affect the team in terms of climate differences.

Francis who is very familiar with the Sudanese weather is worried that the Porcupine Warriors did not leave Ghana on time and that could make it difficult for the team to get acclimatised with the hotter temperature in Sudan compared to that of Ghana.

‘Kotoko did not leave Ghana early, they will arrive in Sudan by 3:00am tomorrow (Friday), which is a holiday in Sudan’, Francis told Kumasi based FOX FM in an interview.

‘On arrival, the players would have to sleep till about 18:00 after Islamic prayers, and you can’t even train by 17:00 in the evening because the sun will be very hot by then and because it’s a Friday, Kotoko might not even see (the officials of) Al Hilal’, Francis feared.

However, the Bechem United official has provided a reasonable advice to Kotoko on how to get used to the weather that will match the kick off time.

‘They should establish very good relationship with Al Hilal and try to train between the hours of 18:00 to 19:00 or between 18:00 to 20:00, at that time the weather will be a bit hotter just as it will be at kick off.

“The players will be tired, but it will condition them to be familiar with things’, Francis advised.

Kotoko will take on the Sudanese giants on Sunday in their opening clash of the CAF Confederation Cup group stage campaign.