Asante Kotoko coach Mariano Barreto has insisted they can still topple leaders Hearts of Oak and win the Ghana Premier League despite their defeat to the Phobians on Sunday.

The Portugese trainer suffered his second defeat since taking charge of the club courtesy a second half strike from Daniel Barnie.

The defeat means the Porcupines are now three points behind Hearts with three matches to the end of the season.

Mathematically, it is Hearts of Oak’s to lose but Barreto is refusing to give up.

”We made one mistake in the match and we conceded the goal. We had a great chance with [Augustine] Okrah, easy but we didn’t make it (score). So if you don’t make the goals (score), you accept the result. Congratulations to Hearts,” the former Black Stars trainer told StarTimes in a post-match speech.

“But I award (praise) my players. They fought, they made everything. In the end we have to wait till the end of the league,” he added