League Report of Thursday, 9 November 2006

Source: GNA

Can Faisal halt Ashgold?

Accra, Nov 9, GNA 96 Troubled King Faisal will hosts the GT Premier League leaders and in-form Ashgold at the Sunyani Coronation Park on Sunday, in the 10th week Premier League game.

At stake will be three points for the winner and pride and battle for supremacy since the two clubs over the past years have engaged in uncompromising battles with Faisal having the better share on most occasions.

Faisal will therefore seek to confirm their superiority over the =91Miners' as they have already won a pre-season game in the One Touch Special Knock Out against the current League leaders. Apart from the search for supremacy, Faisal are uncomfortably placed second from the bottom, a situation which is uncharacteristic of them since they have been among the nation's top four in the past three seasons.

This means the Faisal lads will have to move heaven and earth to grab the three maximum points at stake, first to enhance their position on the league table and secondly to continue their dominance over the 'Aboakese boys.'

And from the records they seem to have the upper hand for another successful delivery but on the ground, the Miners look the favourites. The Miners have been in a terrific form of late and are the only unblemished side in the league so far, winning five matches and drawing four with a total point haul of 19 to occupy the top spot.

They boast of a blend of experienced and youthful players in the likes of Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, Valentine Atem, Joe Hendricks, George Owu, Alhaji Saanie, Shaibu Yakubu, Kweku Sarpong and Lamine Nasir among others who are hungry for success and can provide a smooth delivery on any occasion.

It would have been a grueling encounter if Faisal were going into the game with the dreaded side they presented last season, but with their present squad, the positive signals favour the Miners, who could at least pick a point.

Coach Telat Uzum, Kumasi Asante Kotoko's new coach will have his first test when his side clash against Tema Real Sportive at the =93Waterloo park in Konongo, the side that defeated the 'Fabulous' lads by a lone goal at the Kumasi Sports Stadium last season.

The Turk and his boys will have to work extra harder to be able to overcome the stubborn lads from Tema as they have always proven to be a hard nut to crack for the 2005 league champions.

Berekum Arsenals will rely on their invincibility at the Golden City Park at home to pluck the three points when they welcome Sekondi Hasaacas. Though the 93Do the Do=94 boys are in no mood to drop another point after they were hammered by Hearts last week, the odds favour the host team who have a clean record at home.

=91Wonder boys', Accra Great Olympics will be the guest of Gamba All Blacks at the Swedru Stadium in a battle which looks balanced since any of the sides stand the chance of carrying the day, with the worse being a drawn game.

Kpando Heart of Lions face a stiff opposition from Tema Youth at the Kpando Stadium with Liberty Professionals tipped to beat Real Tamale United, (RTU) taking into consideration the away record of the northern lads.

Winless Power FC return to the Ho Stadium with a game against Tano Bofoakwa at the Ho Stadium. The electricity who are witnessing series of unpleasant results hope to make amends with a win against the Tano lads who earlier on grabbed three points at the same venue in a league game against Great Olympics and will be relishing a repetition of a similar feat.