Premiership prepares for D-Day

The Glo Premier League is preparing for one of the most dramatic finishes in the history of the competition.

The league title and the relegation issues will all be decided on the final weekend of the 2008/09 league campaign as all eight games will kick off simultaneously on Sunday at 1500 GMT.

So, it’s been a grueling nine-calendar months of intrigue, thrilling, passion and competitive footballing action in the Glo Premier League coupled with hits and misses.

A long season which has suffered many managerial casualties and surprises with the title destination still undecided ahead of the final day matches.

The title is not the only hunt left to play for but the battle to avoid the drop also takes centre stage on the last day.

The spectacle has left Ghana Football Association President, Kwesi Nyantakyi relishing for such high standards.

“We all have no idea who will win and who will go down but that is terrific for Ghana football because it makes things a lot more interesting especially when everybody complains about a boring local League,” he said.

And terrific it will be with the various grounds expected to be packed for the D-Day matches, some in to see the title been won, others to avoid the drop while the rest bid goodbye to the elite division.

Closing finish

Hearts of Oak need a victory at the Ohene Djan Stadium over the relegated Sporting Mirren to clinch the championship, but failure could see Asante Kotoko pip them to the Premier League title if the Reds manage a win themselves against King Faisal at the Baba Yara Stadium.

The Phobians have done very little to win the title having remarkably surrendered a 14-point lead at the beginning of the second round and are now on a nine-game winless run.

A 20th league title has also been sight and against Sporting Mirren, the Phobians could turn up to crown a season filled with frustrations. But it would be sweet victory for them if they beat their bitterest rivals, Kotoko to the title especially on the final day.

Champions, Asante Kotoko need to win the Kumasi derby over King Faisal and wish their rivals – Hearts - lose in Accra.

Kotoko’s success certainly depends on the ability of Sporting Mirren to win or draw with Hearts.

The head-to-head system rules of Heart of Lions’ chances of claiming a first premier league title even if the two other sides lose on the final day and they win. Hearts of Oak beat them in their two-leg fixture.

Lions, who have secured a top four finish and earned themselves in continental football play Berekum Arsenals at Kpando Park.

Eleven Wise having won three points off Tema Youth after winning a protest play Kessben at the Sekondi Sports Stadium. Both sides on 40 points apiece are secured of premiership football for next season.

Liberty Professionals travel to the Coronation Park in Sunyani to play Chelsea, who could possibly earn a top four finish with a win and a good goal aggregate.

Relegation struggles

At the bottom things are even tighter with three teams to be relegated on the last day - though Tema Youth and Sporting Mirren are already down with low points.

Four teams – Hasaacas, AshantiGold, RTU and All Blacks – slog it out to avoid joining Sporting Mirren and Tema Youth to the second tier league of Ghana football.

And Tema Youth are the worse hit after losing six points plus six goals in the closing stages of the campaign due to the use of an unqualified player.

On 33 points, Tema Youth’s performance against Gamba All Blacks who are two points better than them at the Tema Park would certainly determine whether the Black Magicians stay in the top flight for next season.

Hasaacas visit the Wa Park to take on All Stars. And the Sekondi side faced with relegation need to pick the maximum points to avoid the drop.

At the Tamale Sports Stadium, Real Tamale United need to win against AshantiGold or they bid goodbye to the premiership.

So, there are likely to be ups and downs, winners and losers but so it shall be as a total of 480 games come to an end.