Asante Kotoko forward Kwame Opoku says he is well-prepared for the pressure that playing for the club comes with after rejoining.

The 25-year-old made a return to the after three years following his departure in 2021 to join Algerian side USM Alger.

Opoku failed to live up to expectations in Algeria and had to leave for Saudi Arabia's Najran SC on loan before eventually transferring to Olympique Khouribga for good.

Having also had a tough time at the Moroccan club, the forward has decided to return to the club which brought him into the limelight.

In his first stint at the club, the forward scored eight goals in 20 matches across all competitions for the Porcupine Warriors.

"I am ready for the pressure. When you play for a club like Kotoko, the expectations are high. I am ready to give my best on any day. The pressure is always there, it’s up to you as a player to handle it well," he said in his first interview with the club's media.

'Bayie' also urged fans of the club to find their voices once again and avail themselves at the stadium when called upon.

"Sometimes, the presence of the supporters at the stadium builds your morale. It raises the confidence level and gives you the feeling that we are playing for them indeed," he added.

"I will urge them to come to the stadium in their numbers to support Kotoko. When they do that, I am sure we will give out our very best on any day."

No one knows in what state he returns as he has not played football since Olympique Khouribga's 3-0 win over Moghreb Tetouan on June 17, 2023. The club were subsequently relegated. In all, Poku managed 153 minutes across six matches in the 2023 season without scoring.

In the 18 months that have followed, Opoku has not kicked a ball. Since the beginning of November, he has been training with the Kotoko team. So it would be best to look at other areas for match-winning ability.

Having been presented to the fans before the win over Hearts of Oak last weekend, Opoku's second debut for the club could come in their next league game against Dreams FC.