FA Cup Preview: Sarmatex aims to hurt Phobians

Hearts of Oak will play as guests of Division One side Samartex FC in the round of 32 of the 2016 MTN FA CUP competition at the Samreboi Park on Saturday.

The Phobians overcame Division One side Wassaman FC in the round of 64 to set up this meeting, beating the Western Regional side by 3-0 at the Accra Sports Stadium a few weeks ago.

Samartex FC also beat UniStar Academy 2-1 at home to qualify to the 32 round of the 2016 FA Cup competition.

The Western Regional side have not lost in this season’s Division One Zone 2 league.

Last season, they lost only once at home, losing heavily by 0-3 to Asokwa Deportivo. Samartex FC’s last season home record reads as played seven, won four, drawn two, and lost once.

Kenichi’s side will face stiff opposition from Samartex on Saturday, but the Hearts head coach says his side will play their best to win the game.

“We are going to focus on the FA Cup game this coming weekend and we will think about our midweek game [with WAFA],” Kenichi said. “I mean any team will give us a difficult match because they want to beat Hearts of Oak so we have to play our best.”

The technical team handed starts to sparingly used players in the round of 64 of the FA Cup competition and it worked to perfection against Wassaman United. Kenneth Okoro grabbed a brace whilst Kwame Kizito scored the other in the 3-0 defeat of United.

Okoro’s starting chances in the first half were given a boost after his brace, and he even played in the 1-3 home defeat to AllStars.

Youngster Isaac Baadu was also given a run out against Wassaman, and the technical team is likely to continue with the selection of sparingly used players for the FA Cup.

Back-from-injury Paul Acquah will be hoping to get his first start of the season against Samartex on Saturday.

Coach Kenichi is confident whoever is given the nod on Saturday can go on to do the job for the club and he explained his selection process for every game.

“We have had several players who are still recovering from injury from the last season; they became fit enough to play and we gave them the chance to play and which they did well. We have 30 players in the squad and I believe every one of them can start,” Kenichi said.

“They are trying to prove themselves and trying to win a starting spot. For me the best XI at a particular time will start; it does not matter whether it is a league game or an FA Cup game. But we will select the best players to win.”

Hearts have a good squad to overcome Samartex on Saturday, but though on paper the Phobians are miles ahead of the lower Division side, it will not be a straight walk through the park especially at the home of the Western Regional side.

MATCH FACTS:

Hearts have met lower division teams in FA Cup 12 times in the last four years. The Phobians have only lost once out of the dozen games, winning the other 11.

They have scored 26 goals and conceded four goals within the period against lower division sides.