Kotoko to Halt Unbeaten Dwarfs

Mysterious Ebusua Dwarfs take their unbeaten run in the 2011/2012 Glo Premier league to face the ‘Porcupine Warriors’, Asante Kotoko this Sunday at the Baba Yara sports stadium in Kumasi in the top liner of the week ten matches.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko shares the top spot on point with defending league champions Berekum Chelsea and Glorious Accra Hearts of Oak on eighteen points each whilst Dwarfs unbeaten though are fourth on the log with seventeen points.

The home side has not lost any match at their backyard this season and may be looking forward to adding Dwarfs to their snick of conquers but the visitor’s away record this season has been quite impressive thus making the game difficult to be easily be predicted.

Matches between Dwarfs and Kotoko at the Baba Yara stadium has always been difficult for both sides and the one which quickly comes to mind is the ‘Buy Three get Four Free’ on June 20th, 1999 where Dwarfs had to come back from three goals down to beat Kotoko 4 – 3 in the second half.

Kotoko have scored fifteen goals and have conceded six goals in the season so far whereas Mysterious Dwarfs on the other hand have scored ten and have conceded just four goals showing that whilst Kotoko are better upfront, Dwarfs are also very good defensively and would have to prove it in Sunday’s match.

The Porcupine Warriors would like to maintain their lead on the log knowing that a slip may give either bitter rivals Hearts of Oak or Chelsea the opportunity to taking over the top spot but to beat Dwarfs Kotoko’s attackers needs to be very strong upstairs because Dwarfs defence ably led by Rashid Sumaila is very tight to penetrate.

A draw looks likely in this affair as Bismark Asiedu who has not only shown to be a captain but a true leader for his side and Seidu Bansey can also give the Kotoko defence a real hell of time on the break but for my money Kotoko can surely stop the unbeaten run of Dwarfs come Sunday.

At the Accra sports stadium, the scientific soccer lads Liberty Professionals will host Capital neighbours Accra Hearts of Oak. Hearts failed to leapfrog to the summit of the table last Wednesday when they settled for a 0 – 0 drawn game with Aduana Stars at the same venue in a match where Mahatma Otoo missed a spot kick.

Liberty is eighth on the table with thirteen points whilst Hearts of Oak are third with eighteen points the same as first and second placed teams Kotoko and Chelsea. The story of Hearts this season has been the fire upfront and until this issue is solved it will be very difficult for supporters of the phobia club to witness avalange of goals.

Liberty has scored nine goals in the season and has conceded seven goals whereas the phobians have scored seven and have conceded just two goals proving how good they have been at the back throughout this season but Liberty though scoring also looks porous at the back.

If Coach Nebojsa Vucicevic should find a correct fire partners upfront for his side then the phobian’s are going to carry the day but on the other hand, if the defence of Hearts should also leave the skillful Michael Helegbe to have his day then the story would be different.

Soccer Miners, Ashantigold will welcome Hearts of Lions to the Obuasi Len Clay Park. Ashantigold’s performance this season has been nothing but poor and have nothing to show to their supporters on Sunday except a win over Lions.

Lions has also not exhibited the form that gave them the accolade,’ Giants Killers’ as they lie tenth on the table with eleven points two more than the home side who are twelfth on the log with nine points.

Ashantigold should appease their supporters with a win in this encounter but Hearts of Lions are unpredicted and can cause havoc at the Len Clay stadium. The coach with a better tactics on the day will carry all the three maximum points in this match.

At the Wa Park, All Stars will play host to New Edubiase United who halted Kotoko’s unbeaten run last Wednesday at the Nana Gyamfi Park in Bekwai.

All Star’s last match at their backyard was not that impressive as they lost by 0 – 1 to Hearts but they responded well in their midweek match against bottomed club Wassaman united with a 2 – 0 score line but playing against Edubiase who have the best striker in the league so far can always be difficult for any side.

The home side looks favorite to carry the three points at stake in this encounter but should they leave Emmanuel Baffour to have his day then the story could be a different one altogether after ninety minutes.

My team of the mid week Tema Youth will welcome Berekum Arsenal to the Tema Community Three Park. Tema Youth managed to travel to the dreaded Kpando Park to pull a surprised 1 – 0 win over Hearts of Lions last Wednesday. Tema Youth are eleventh on the table with ten points whilst Berekum Arsenal is third from the bottom with just eight points. Tema Youth are favorites in this match but they need to guard against complacency in order to avoid a surprise from the visitors.

At the Sekondi stadium in Essipong, Medeama SC will play host to Mighty Jets. Medeama are ninth on the log with twelve points whilst Mighty Jets on the other hand are twelfth with nine points.

Medeama’s attacking trio of Hans Kofi, Tanko Mohammed and Louis Agyeman will certainly do the business at their favorite’s home grounds where I see no surprise from the visitors on Sunday.

Bottom placed Wassaman united will travel to Dormaa to play as guest to former African Champions League campaigners Aduana Stars at the Osagyefo Agyeman Badu’s Park.

The homesters are seventh on the league table with fourteen points whereas their opponent lies at the bottom with just four points from nine matches played.

Aduana are very good at their home grounds where they pick most of their points in the league and Wassaman’s performance in the league so far is not good enough to scare Aduana from winning in this affair.

Title chasers Berekum Chelsea will play as host to Bechem united at the Berekum Golden City Park. Chelsea is second on the table with eighteen points whilst Bechem are fifteenth with seven points.

The defending champions are better than Bechem united in all department of the game and will surely carry the day especially as they have made their intentions clear that they are competing for the ultimate.

PREDICTIONS

Dwarfs 1 – 2 Kotoko

Liberty 0 – 1 Hearts

All Stars 1 – 1 Edubiase

Ashantigold 2 – 1 Lions

Tema Youth 3 – 1 Arsenal

Medeama 2 – 0 M. Jets

Aduana 2 – 0 Wassaman

Chelsea 3 – 0 Bechem united

By: