The Blind Pass: Mauves put Ghana back on the Map

A landmark event in the annals of association football ensued as handlers of the premier league saw through the first ever competitive league game played behind closed doors.

This is the first of two matches to be played under similar conditions as result of fan upheaval at the Ohene Djan stadium. Recipients of this unprecedented sanction, Hearts of Oak however managed a solitary goal win over Hasaacas even without their vociferous fans.

Aduana Stars completed a quintet of games with maximum points with a 1-0 win against New Edubiase United away from home. Asante Kotoko further boosted their standing on the log after recording victory at Bechem, one of the most difficult grounds on the local terrain.

It would turn out to be a midweek of stalemates as 8 teams shared the spoils in their respective matches. Liberty Professionals came twice from behind to level things up at 2-2 at Dawu against Dreams FC.

West Africa Football Academy held their own and held fast declining All Stars at the Wa park. Ashanti Gold pegged Inter Allies back with a quick fire equalizer shortly after the latter had taken the lead. Ebusua Dwarfs began life without J.E Sarpong on a barren note as they were held in a goalless drawn game at home by Berekum Chelsea.

MAUVES PUT GHANA BACK ON THE MAP…

When the curtains were drawn on the maiden edition of the CAF confederations cup in the 2004/2005 season, winners Hearts of Oak and finalist Asante Kotoko made sure no single doubt was left in the minds of everyone who believed Ghana was an established order in African club competitions.

They served Africa and the world a pulsating and nerve racking two legged final, the first ever with two clubs from the same country in that competition. Sadly these two giants went into oblivion and never showed up again in a competition in which they set the pace.

A little over a decade on and no impressive testament of them or any Ghanaian outfit could be chanced upon. Kingfaisal, New Edubiase United and Berekum Arsenals have all at certain points failed in their attempt to give this competition a good shot.

Medeama Sporting Club before their heroic “bringing down of the sun” from South Africa yesterday had also gone on the same road without success. Medeama SC booked their place in the group phase of this year’s CAF confederations cup after bundling out South African champions Sundowns on away goals.

The performance of Ghanaian clubs in African competitions has dwindled over the years culminating into the reduction of the number of participating clubs from the soccer possessed country.

Medeama SC with this feat have not only done themselves proud but have succeeded in putting a once established order in African club competitions back on the map. The road to the group phase has not been without hiccups. Their domestic form has suffered the most with their heavy fixture schedule.

They also had to do battle to stabilize their technical bench with their former head coach going awol severally in a short spate. It is against all these odds that they have come this far and it is the mustering of such character that will propel them to emulate the exploits of the Hearts’ and kotokos on the continent.

On this congratulatory note we urge Medeama SC not to drop their shoulders but to dig deep until the ultimate gold is struck.