Hearts, Kotoko under pressure as Glo premier League Resumes

Inside the Premier League: Hearts, Kotoko under pressure as Glo premier League Resumes

The second round of the Glo Premier League (GPL) begins on Sunday after a three-week

break with eight matches scheduled to be played at various venues across the

country.

Several Glo Premier League clubs have take advantage of the three-week recess to

reinforce their teams in preparedness for the league's second round.

Struggling Asante Kotoko, who lie 12th on the league table, have secured the

services of ten new players in a desperate bid to improve the performance of the

team.

The two-time African Champions have come under intense criticisms this season from

fans and the media for a series of appalling performances that has left them with

only 18 points from a possible 45 and only a point above the relegation zone.

The replacement of Coach Ebo Mends with Bogdan Korak in the middle of the first

round, failed to impact positively on the performance of the team. And Kotoko will

be hoping that the recruitment of players such as Nathaniel Asamoah, Sabato

Mohammed, Fatau mohammed, Michael Akuffo, Abubakari Alhassan, Apraku Samuel

Frimpong, Frank Boateng, Nafiu Abdul Iddrissu, Yaw Frimpong and Awal Mohammed leads

to a change in fortunes.

Kotoko have also appointed Patrick Ofori, a sports psychologist and Slobodan

Gnjidic, a Serbian physical trainer, to assist in the preparation of team for the

second round of the Glo Premier league.

The Executive Chairman of Kotoko, Dr K.K Sarpong, has expressed confidence in his

team's ability to live up to expectations, when the second round of the league

begins on Sunday.

''I am confident the future is bright for Kotoko because everything possible is

being done to ensure that the club returns to winning ways. We are working according

to plan and soon the evidence will be there for all to see'', he said.

Kotoko, however, face an uphill task on Sunday against Wa All Stars who lie 8th on

the league table.

Wa All Stars who endured a difficult Premier League first round, managing only 21

points from a possible 45, would be keen to improve their standing on the league

table with victory over Kotoko at the Wa Park. It is Kotoko, however, who go into

the match with a psychological advantage having beaten Wa All Stars 2-1 at the Baba

Yara Stadium, three weeks ago.

Accra Hearts of Oak, who celebrate a century this year, will be hoping for a

significant improvement in their Premier League performance, after registering over

fifteen new players including former Premier League best player, Mahatma Otoo, for

the second round of the Glo Premier League.

The twenty time league Champions have had a poor season, managing only 19 points

from a possible 45, and lying 9th on the Premier League table with only five wins

this season.

New lads such as Awudu Alhassan, Laryea Emmanuel, Alhassan Shamsu, Eli Kuegbe,

Acheampong Isaac, Owusu Ansah Isaac, Mensah Solomon and Nii Ashitey Clement would be

expected to help move the team further up the league ladder.

Coach Paa Kwesi Fabian, who has received the backing of Hearts’ Management despite

relentless calls for his sack, will be under intense pressure to win, when Hearts

take on Real Tamale United (RTU) at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra on

Sunday. Already RTU, who have been very poor this season with only 3 wins from 15

matches, hold a psychological advantage over Hearts having defeated them 2-1 in the

last week of the Premier League first round.

Premier League leaders, Berekum Chelsea, will be looking to consolidate their lead

at SSSS top of the Premier League table with victory over Mighty Jets on Sunday.

Chelsea have had a phenomenal season, amassing 32 points from a possible 45, and

treating lovers of Premier League football to quality and exciting football this

season. With 10 wins, two draws and only three losses, the Berekum lads have

established themselves as the best side in the country, with 7 points clear of New

Edubiase United who occupy the second position on the league, and 14 and 13 points

clear of Kotoko and Hearts respectively.

The likes of Bismark Idan (joint top-scorer last season), Emmanuel Clottey, Edward

Kpodo, Frank Acheampong, Abdul Basit, Obed Owusu, Alfred Arthur and others have also

established themselves as some of the best players in the League.

Obed Nana Nketiah, Chief Executive of Chelsea has affirmed that Chelsea's primary

objective is to remain in the Glo Premier League.

“The players are hungry for success and the thirst to win something big has been

the driving force. For us, our ambition is to survive the premiership, then we can

talk of the league title’’, he said.

‘’ Winning the league will serve as bonus’’, he added.

Chelsea have yet to lose at home this season and that situation is not likely to

change when they host Mighty Jets at the Golden City Park on Sunday.

Mighty Jets aren’t so mighty after all, having managed only 4 wins this season. A

series of poor performances has left the team with only 17 points from 15 games.

They lie 3rd from bottom on the Premier League table and are in danger of being

relegated if their performance doesn’t improve.

The replacement of veteran coach, Emmanuel Kwesi Afranie with Jonas Amissah has

failed to positively invigorate the team, and having won only one match away from

home this season, a defeat to high-flying Chelsea is almost an inevitability.

Defending Champions, Aduana Stars, who lie third on the league table, will be

seeking to consolidate their position with victory over 5th placed Berekum Chelsea

at Agyemang Badu Park on Sunday. Aduana have 22 points from 15 games and have won 6

matches this season.

Herbert Addo, has transformed the team into disciplined and defensively solid side

who are very difficult to break down. The team has succumbed to only three defeats

this season and are yet to lose at home.

Against an equally formidable Berekum Arsenal side, Aduana will have to play well

above their strength to ensure victory.

Having secured two wins away from home this season, Berekum Arsenal will be hoping

to upset Aduana Stars on Sunday, knowing that victory will see them rise above the

Dormaa lads on the league table.

In another of Sunday's Premier League matches, New Edubiase United, who occupy

second spot on the league table, will be hosts of Kpando Hearts of Lions at the

Gyamfi Park in Bekwai.

New Edubiase have registered their intent to remain in the Premier League with a

series of solid performances this season. The Bekwai based team has 25 points from

15 games, having won 6, drawn 7 and lost only 2 matches this season. They are seven

points adrift of league leaders, Chelsea, and would be keen to improve their

standing with victory over Hearts of Lions.

Hearts of Lions have had a poor season winning 4, drawing 7 and losing 4 matches in

15 games, resulting in 19 points from a possible 45. The Kpando lads have won only

one match away from home this season and should be content with a draw against

high-flying Edubiase.

Edubiase have the psychological advantage going into the match, having held Lions

to a goaless draw at the Kpando park.

Liberty Professionals, the breeding ground of several Ghanaian football stars

including Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Asamoah Gyan and Kwadwo Asamoah, are in

the precarious situation of being relegated this season. The scientific soccer lads

slipped into the relegation zone after a series of unimpressive performances left

them with only 17 points from a possible 45.

The management of Liberty has aptly replaced Coach George Odartey Lamptey with Coach

J.E Sarporg and reinforced the team with new players, in a bid to salvage the team's

season.

Liberty President, Alhaji Sly Tetteh has expressed confidence that his team will

return to winning ways when the second round begins on Sunday.

Liberty will be the guests of 7th placed Ebusua Dwarfs at the Robert Mensah Stadium

in Cape Coast.

Finally, BA Stars, who lie bottom of the league table, have registered 16 new

players in an aggressive attempt to avoid relegation.

The Sunyani based team has a meagre 11 points from 15 matches this season, and would

be hoping for a drastic improvement in fortunes, with the recruitment of new players

including former Premier League Player of the Year, Kweku Essien, Alan Shearer,

James Wanor, veteran Michael Osei, Abubakari Surala, and Mawuli Sogblo.

B.A Stars host AshGold at the Suyani Coronation Park on Sunday and will be keen to

secure all three points at stake in order to boost their chances of remaining in the

Premier League.

It remains to be seen, however, whether B.A can manage a win against a David Duncan

led AshGold side who lie 6th on the league table with 22 points from 15 games.

It is Ashgold who go into the match with a psychological advantage having beaten B.A

Stars 1-0 at the Len Clay Stadium in the last week of the Premier League’s first

round.

By Samuel K. Obour