New Edubiase United otherwise known as ‘Yenko Nkoa’ are going
to put League leaders Kumasi Asante Kotoko into a serious test come tomorrow in
their ninth week Glo Premier league clash at the Nana Gyamfi Park in Bekwai.
The Porcupine Warriors lie at the summit of the log with
eighteen points and are being sprinting followed by defending league Champions
Berekum Chelsea and Accra Hearts of Oak who are both on seventeen points each
and loosing at Bekwai will mean loosing the top spot to either Chelsea or
Hearts.
The Bekwai lads are currently on ninth position with twelve
points and are bent on picking all the three maximum points at stake especially
playing in front of their home supporters.
This match will certainly produce some goals from both sides.
Kotoko’s upfront to me, has been the most potent so far in the league but if
their central defensive pair should leave their back unguarded then trust
Emmanuel Baffour to put in a goal or two.
The real action will be at the Cape Coast Robert Mensah
stadium where still unbeaten Mysterious Ebusua Dwarfs will play host to
defending league champions Berekum Chelsea in a make or break affair.
Chelsea stands very tall above all the fifteen clubs in terms
of materials but Dwarfs are one of the most technically and tactically
discipline sides in the league so far and can cause any team in the league not
exempting Chelsea.
Chelsea are yet to loose a match under Coach Van der Plyum
who took charge over the team four weeks ago after sacking their substantive coach
due to a painfully home defeat to Medeama SC but playing against the tricky
Dwarfs especially at the Robert Mensah stadium where the fans will come in
their numbers to cheer them up is a different ball game all together.
I think this match is going to end up in a draw with goals
but if any team is going to win at all then Dwarfs are going to do their normal
business at their favorite home grounds over the defending champions.
At the Accra Sports stadium, second placed Hearts of Oak will
welcome former African Champions League campaigners Aduana Stars. The Phobian
boys recorded their first victory in four years at the Wa Park last Sunday
courtesy Mahatma Otoo’s goal giving their supporters some level of hope to
coming back to reclaim the top spot.
The Phobian’s are very good in the middle and what is more,
hard Knox Moro Abubakar and Thomas Abbey keeps improving match after match and these
two middies have gradually become Coach Nebojsa Vucicevic’s secret weapon to
unlocking his opponent’s midfield.
Hearts only problem had to do with their upfront where
Mahatma Otoo needs someone to do the dirty work for him to penetrate but
Raymond Darke’s inclusion in their last match at Wa paid dividends to Coach
Vucicevic and I’m convinced he’ll do same tomorrow against Aduana Stars.
Aduana Stars have been relying on the prowess of their right
fullback Godfred Saka to winning their matches but I wonder if they can do same
against Hearts. Aduana are sixth on the table with thirteen points and I could
feel defeat staring at their face in tomorrows encounter but if Saka should
find his driving seat then they can pull a surprise.
Medeama SC will travel to Berekum to play as guest to Arsenal
who are struggling to find their feet in the season. Arsenals are fourteenth on
the log with just five points whilst Medeama on the other hand are eight with
twelve points.
The last time Arsenal played at the Golden City Park, they
had to settle for a drawn game with local rivals Aduana and their supporters
will not take it cool if they should drop point again tomorrow against Medeama
but Medeama are quite a strong side and will surely put Arsenals under a lot of
pressure.
At the Kpando Park, Hearts of Lions will play against Tema
Youth. Lions are tenth on the table with eleven points whilst Tema Youth are
fifth from bottom with just seven points.
Lions are always favorites when playing at their home base
and Tema Youth are not going to be spared at this point of the season where
every team needs to gather maximum points in order to be saved.
At the Essipong Park, fifteenth placed Wassaman United will
welcome sixth placed Wa All Stars. Wassaman could not find a breathing space in
their last match at the Baba Yara stadium against league leaders Kotoko and
will try to make amends in this match.
On the other hand, All Stars were also beaten at home by Hearts
in their last match and are bent on taking all the three points at stake in
this match but Wassaman looks likely to win this match.
Bottom club Bechem United will play as host to struggling
Ashantigold at their newly established Bechem Park. Bechem United recorded
their first ever victory in the season over Medeama SC last week to open their
park and will be looking forward to doing same over Ashantigold come tomorrow.
The changing of the name Goldfields to Ashantigold seem to
have some effect on the soccer miners because in some years back, Goldfields
were one of the football power houses not only in Ghana but Africa as well when
they had the likes of Nimbombo Wake, Koussi Nutodjie, Stephen Baidoo, Afo
Dodoo, Sammy Adjei, Yaw Acheampong, Eben Hagan, Augustina Arhinful, Lawrence
Adjei and the likes who were the core of our national teams.
If Bechem United will take their chances then they are
certainly going to win their second match since joining the league and should
Ashantigold on the other hand find their lost form then the story will be a
different one at the Bechem Park.
On Thursday, Mighty Jets will welcome the Scientific Soccer
lads, Liberty Professionals to the Accra Sports Stadium. Mighty Jets are
thirteenth on the table whereas Liberty is fifth with thirteen points.
Loosing to Liberty will sink Mighty Jets further down the
table thus gradually saying bye bye to the premier league but Liberty have also
make some positive statement and will like to continue it come Thursday but the
home team may run away with a slim victory.
PREDICTIONS
Bechem United 2 – 1 Ashantigold
Hearts of Lions 2 – 0 Tema Youth
Arsenals 1 – 0 Medeama
Hearts of Oak 2 – 0 Aduana Stars
Wassaman 1 – 0 All Stars
New Edubiase 2 – 2 Kotoko
Ebusua Dwarfs 3 – 2 Chelsea
Mighty Jets 1 – 1 Liberty
