Can Ashgold be caught in Ghana title race?

It's hard to dispute that Ashanti Gold have been perennial underachievers in the Ghana Premier League over the years.

The domestic giants’ last title came 18 years ago, with a series of near misses in the intervening years only serving to intensify their agony. However, with just three rounds of matches to go until the end of the 2014-15 season, and with Aduana Stars and Inter Allies breathing down their necks, there have been questions as to whether the Miners can hold onto their three-point lead at the top of the table.

Will the wait soon be over, or will one of the nation’s giants have to go a little longer without the title they crave?

With two wins out of their last six matches, Ashanti Gold have picked up just eight points out of a possible 18. This, along with some earlier disappointing results, has consequently seen a seven-point lead sliced to three.

Nevertheless, the odds seem to be in their favour, and with close contenders Stars and Allies anticipating some tricky ties to come, the title remains the Obuasi-based side’s to lose.

However, with games against the West Africa Football Academy (WAFA) and relegation-threatened Great Olympics, Ashanti Gold’s biggest test is undoubtedly an imminent trip away to Berekum Chelsea.

It is a match which could define their title hopes.

Chelsea’s Golden City Park is a dreaded hostile ground, and its occupants are known for being tough customers.

Impressively, the Blues are yet to lose at home this season, but AshGold could take consolation from the fact that ninth-placed Medeama got away with a point in Chelsea’s last home game. Achieving a similar result would represent a success for Ashanti Gold ahead of a home fixture with WAFA, who have picked just seven points away.

It would all come down, then, to a last game away to thirteenth-placed Olympics who have already given away 13 points at home.

“I can mathematically tell anybody who is good at it [calculations] that we are about 80 per cent close to winning the title,” Ashanti Gold coach Bashiru Hayford told the media after last Sunday’s 2-1 win over Medeama.

“We need to, and will make sure we go to Berekum Chelsea and pick a point so that the last match [at Olympics] will be a formality.”

While a slip by Ashanti Gold cannot be ruled out, there is equally no guarantee that second-placed Aduana will pick up all of the remaining points and give themselves the best-possible chance of toppling the Miners at the death.

With away trips to fourteenth-placed and relegation-strapped Heart of Lions to come, as well as a meeting with defending league champions Asante Kotoko, a last-minute overtake looks unlikely.

It is worth noting that Aduana’s only remaining home fixture is against relegation contenders New Edubiase who, like Lions, would give everything in a desperate fight to beat the drop.

On paper, Aduana should overcome the strugglers, but Edubiase will surely not give them an inch.

Like Aduana, third-placed Allies face two tricky duels away to tenth-placed Liberty Professionals and ninth-placed Medeama with their sole home game, against Bechem United, coming in between.

With Liberty and Medeama tied on 37 points, just three points ahead of Lions in the relegation zone, the duo will fight for everything there is to fight for, as a slip could be as detrimental as pushing them into the dreaded position.

This makes their ties with Allies crucial. Finding an antidote to Medeama’s Nathaniel Asamoah, the leading goalscorer with 18, is an issue on its own.

Expectedly, in the midst of uncertainty lies desperation. With the title race undecided and relegation to beat, it is easy to understand why. What is obvious though, is an exciting end to the season – one that could see Ashanti Gold end an 18-year drought or reiterate their tag as perennial underachievers for the umpteenth time.

The former looks more likely, although as Miners fans have realised many times over, nothing can be taken for granted…