Can the big guns fight back?

Accra, April 18, GNA - After the fall of the two most glamorous clubs, Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko in the first week of the GT Premiership and the surprise performance put up by the smaller clubs, the question on the lips of many soccer fans as the league enters the second week is whether the big guns can fight back and reclaim their glory or whether the smaller clubs can sustain the performances they displayed last week?

Even though the trend of the results is characteristic of many first week matches in the premiership, no one expected the 'bigger' Clubs to sink so heavily especially after the annexation of the 2004 league trophy by Hearts and the subsequent capture of the Gala competition by Kotoko.

With this scenario, the two clubs are therefore expected to enter the second week with 'red eyes' especially when the jobs of the their respective coaches have been put on the line.

It is for this reason that Real Tamale United (RTU) after failing to make use of their home advantage against Heart of Lions last Sunday at the Kaladan Park in Tamale are in for another trouble as they trek to Kumasi to face the wrath of wounded Kumasi Asante Kotoko. Having lost their first game at Berekum, the Gala lords would not be in any mood to drop a single point in their next game especially on their 'Fast Track' home grounds hence the Tamale lads would have to put in extra efforts as they would be in for a match of their lives against Kotoko.

Matches of this nature have always been in favour of Kotoko since the away performances of RTU have mostly been in doubt and this may likely be repeated on Sunday.

Embattled coach Archibald Lamptey of Accra Hearts of Oak would have to beat Kade Hotpsurs at Kade in order to keep his present job or face demotion as well as risk losing his job entirely. This follows the series of agitations made by the fans after he supervised the team to their 3-2 defeat at the hands of Ebusua Dwarfs at their own back yard in Accra last Sunday.

Though Hearts defeated the newly promoted side in the Gala, they would definitely face a stiff opposition this time round since the new premiership side would be playing at their favourite home ground. The match between Kpando Heart of Lions and King Faisal at Kpando has been tipped to be the cracker of the week due to the previous clashes between the two sides this year.

Lions ended the dreams of Faisal in retaining the Top Four trophy this year but succumbed to the Kumasi lads in the third place match for the 2004 league.

The battle line has therefore been drawn for the two sides to prove their worth, though the homesters seem to be slightly ahead. Giant killers Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs would be the hosts of AshantiGold in another exciting encounter at the Robert Mensah Sports stadium.

With three points in each of their baskets it seems the two clubs have the same strength and a draw would not be a surprise result. Power FC is highly tipped to pick all the three points at stake in their game against Feyenoord Academy at the Tema Sports Stadium, whilst Okwawu United after picking a vital away point are sure bets for the three points this time when they come up against Bereku Arsenal at the Nkawkaw Park.

The "Scientific Soccer" lads, Liberty Professionals return to the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium after suffering a lone goal defeat at the hands of Ashgold last Sunday, but they are sure to turn the fortunes in their favour against Real Sportive with Bofoakwa Tano likely to capitalise on their home advantage at the Sunyani Coronation Park to pick the maximum points in their match against Sekondi Hasaacas.