Kotoko vs Hearts: Pride and League title at stake for big 2

The two most glamorous clubs in the country will go head to head again to honour the outstanding match day 23 game in Kumasi.

The battle for supremacy will take the centre stage once more at the Baba Yara Stadium.For Kotoko, it is about revenge while Hearts of Oak will fancy repeating another victory over their eternal rivals.

This tie was due to be honoured later in July but was postponed due to the unfortunate accident that occurred on the 12 of July as Kotoko were returning from their match day 22 defeat to Inter Allies at the El-Wak sports stadium. The Kotoko team are yet to play a competitive game since that incident.

The game will be the 5th meeting between both sides this calendar year. They met during the Ghalca top 6 competition, Ghana @60 match, the first leg in the premier League, the President's cup (about a month ago) with this fixture making it the 5th. Hearts have won 3 the Porcupines having the sole victory in the President’s Cup. Advertisement

KOTOKO'S CAMP

Speaking to the media ahead of the titanic clash, Head Coach for Kotoko, Steve Pollack who was also involved in the accident and underwent surgeries to his knee said his side is ever ready to grace the game come Sunday but unsure he can be on the bench.

According to him, the medical staff will decide if he will be on the bench or not but believes he has good people on the bench whom he will be giving advice to and whether or not he will be with the team or watch from the stands, he will be with them in spirit.

Pollack emphasized his focus is on making sure the players are physically and mentally prepared for "that" game after which he will think about the game itself.

He added that the team has trained well enough and he is hoping to get all the three points at stake.

The Porcupine Warriors will miss out on Emmanuel Gyamfi who got injured at the local black stars camp but his colleagues, Amos Frimpong, Awal Mohammed and Saddick Adams are all ready and fit for the game. Kotoko are playing with three different coaches against Hearts already.

HEARTS CAMP

Frank Nuttall is full of confidence that his side can secure all three points and keep the pressure on leaders Aduana Stars and WAFA who are second with a game in hand.

He noted that although Kotoko have not played any competitive game after their accident, they will always be tough nuts to crack but he trusts his boys to deliver so they can secure all three points.

The Phobians will be relying on their star man and local black stars player, Thomas Abbey who has 12 goals in the ongoing Ghana Premier League.

With the second leg of the Ghana @60 clash between both sides yet to be played, Ghanaian football fans can take solace from this super clash with both sides seeking to have a go at the league title which has evaded both clubs for the last two seasons.

Not an immediate decider but could go a long way to spark or stall a title challenge here. Fans have already been talking up their team's chances ahead of this big clash but as the saying goes on the local parlance "Agro ne fom” - the pitch will decide.