AFTER months of litigation, allegations and counter allegations, boardroom wranglings and threats, the Onetouch Premier League bounces back at last this weekend. With 480 matches to be played, our premier league which is now ranked 14th on the African continent but 79th globally with 117 points will be keenly contested.
With the valuation of the premier league pegged at $4million, the Ghana Football Association continues to source for sponsorship for the league which is a step in the right direction. The 17 billion cedi sponsorship deal from headline sponsors, Onetouch, has been the highest ever sponsorship deal witnessed in the country with Afri-Sat also securing a three-year deal worth $2.750 million, which gives the South African-based television channel exclusive rights to broadcast the league.
Defending champions, Accra Hearts of Oak start their defense with a local derby with city rivals, Accra Great Olympics at the El Wak Stadium on Sunday in what is without doubt the topmost match of the weekend. Coach Karim Zito needs to get the Phobians to a flying start whilst Olympics Coach Nii Adu Sackey will want to impress his new employers by at least getting a draw in an uncompromising match which slightly favours the Phobians. Asante Kotoko who played 36 matches during the off season which took them to Cote d'Ivoire, Sudan and Germany has spent close to GH 250,000 on new players like Eric Bekoe, Kojo Poku and Baba Armando. They entertain Gamba All Blacks at the Sunyani Coronation Park on Sunday in a must win encounter. Ashgold make a trip to the Robert Mensah Stadium to engage Tema Youth. Lamine Nasir and Alfred Arthur could not register for the Aboakese Boys although James Nanor, Osei Kofi, Sumaila Nyaya, Mohammed Gargo and Gariba Oumar can help David Duncan to at least force a draw.
The temporary tsunami in the camp of Real Tamale United has subsided and against league debutants, Zaytuna FC, they will do well to pick up the points but Gideon Baah, the MTN Soccer Academy winner and his five other colleagues from the Academy House will have other ideas. Fellow debutants Kessben FC welcome Sekondi Hasaacas to their newly constructed mini-stadium at Abrankese. Former Hasmal coach, Opeele Boateng will count on new players, Bismark Idan, Mohammed Alhassan and James Boadu to collect maximum points. King Faisal meanwhile plays away to Liberty Professionals at the Carl Reindorf Park. Daniel Bomfah and Emmanuel Osei have joined Liberty and this may be a test case for King Faisal who missed relegation narrowly last season. In other matches, Heart of Lions are ready to roar on Sunday against Tema Real Sportive at the Kpando Park whilst Berekum Arsenals welcomes another league debutant, Wa All Stars at the Golden City Park.
