Kotoko poised to climb top …as they welcome Oly to Kumasi
Defending league champions Kumasi Asante Kotoko will attempt to jump onto the summit of the betpawa Premier League when they take on Accra Great Olympics in their match-day 11 game at the Kumasi Baba Yara Stadium tomorrow.
Kotoko trail leaders Aduana Stars by two points and victory would see them topple the Ogya Boys on the log ahead of the Aduana versus Bibiani Gold Stars’ game on Monday.
In their last two fixtures, the hosts ran away with the maximum points, beating the visitors at home 2-0 last season and 1-0 away in Accra.
The results of last season may define this fixture as it may follow the trend of last season.
Four points separates both sides going into this game with Olympics lying 10th on the log. The Blue-and-white shirts would be without trusted centre-back Solomon Adomako and number one shot-stopper Stephen Kwaku who have earned late call-ups to join the Black Galaxies in Algeria for the upcoming CHAN tournament.
With Kotoko coming into this game with somewhat a full strength side, it remains to be seen how coach Yaw Preko and his Olympics charges would be able to deal with the firepower of the hosts, who are hell-bent on grabbing their sixth win of the season.
This afternoon at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Referee George Mawuli Vormawor will be in charge of the Hearts of Oak versus Tamale City game.
The Phobians come into this game with a depleted side having contributed players to the Black Galaxies, with others on the injury table and the rest serving suspension. The Ghana Football Association quashed their request for postponement of this fixture due to the prevailing issues at hand.
Also, the side would be without head coach Slavko Matic who is on a short leave to his native country Serbia.
In the absence of the head coach, David Ocloo will take charge of the team for the game and is expected to work magic to get past his opposite number Hamza Mohammed who managed a 2-1 win over Great Olympics in their last game.
The Phobians have been a pale shadow of themselves since the resumption of the league after the World Cup break, suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of visiting Bechem United and fans would not be okay with yet another lack-lustre showing this afternoon.
Tamale City come into this fixture on a high – but having had some chequered display on the road, it remains to be seen if they can capitalise on the misfortunes of the Phobians and hand them a second straight defeat at home.
Accra Lions will stay put at their adopted home venue, the WAFA Park in Sogakope, to host Legon Cities this afternoon.
The Nana Kronmansah Park in Nsoatre will come alive with the clash of the new boys between Nsoatreman FC and visiting Samartex 1996.
Nsoatreman FC lie 12th on the log with 13 points, a point better than the visitors who occupy the 15th position, one point less than the hosts.
Having faltered in their last game 2-0 at the hands of King Faisal, the home team come into this game with their ego against the wall and the home fans would be urging their side to go all out for the three points, especially with the visitors who drew their last game at home with Dreams FC, not having their head coach Daniel Annor Walker on the bench, due to national assignment with the Black Galaxies.
Also at the Dawu Theatre of Dreams, homesters Dreams who seats at the 13th position with 12 points will welcome eighth-placed Medeama SC who are steadily climbing up the league log after a false start to the season which saw them at a point losing four straight games in a row. Referee Rustum Gameli Senorgbe will be in charge of that game.
In other games, Karela United will welcome Real Tamale United to the CAM Park tomorrow; fourth-placed Bechem will take on King Faisal at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem.
On Monday at the Duns Park in Bibiani, league leaders Aduana Stars will face the might of Gold Stars which would have referee Laud Nettey taking charge of that game.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
