Inside the Premier League: Hearts, Kotoko under pressure as Glo premier League Resumes

The second round of the Glo Premier League (GPL) begins on Sunday after a three-week
break with eight matches scheduled to be played at various venues across the
country.

Several Glo Premier League clubs have take advantage of the three-week recess to
reinforce their teams in preparedness for the league's second round.
Struggling Asante Kotoko, who lie 12th on the league table, have secured the
services of ten new players in a desperate bid to improve the performance of the
team.

The two-time African Champions have come under intense criticisms this season from
fans and the media for a series of appalling performances that has left them with
only 18 points from a possible 45 and only a point above the relegation zone.
The replacement of Coach Ebo Mends with Bogdan Korak in the middle of the first
round, failed to impact positively on the performance of the team. And Kotoko will
be hoping that the recruitment of players such as Nathaniel Asamoah, Sabato
Mohammed, Fatau mohammed, Michael Akuffo, Abubakari Alhassan, Apraku Samuel
Frimpong, Frank Boateng, Nafiu Abdul Iddrissu, Yaw Frimpong and Awal Mohammed leads
to a change in fortunes.
Kotoko have also appointed Patrick Ofori, a sports psychologist and Slobodan
Gnjidic, a Serbian physical trainer, to assist in the preparation of team for the
second round of the Glo Premier league.
The Executive Chairman of Kotoko, Dr K.K Sarpong, has expressed confidence in his
team's ability to live up to expectations, when the second round of the league
begins on Sunday.
''I am confident the future is bright for Kotoko because everything possible is
being done to ensure that the club returns to winning ways. We are working according
to plan and soon the evidence will be there for all to see'', he said.
Kotoko, however, face an uphill task on Sunday against Wa All Stars who lie 8th on
the league table.

Wa All Stars who endured a difficult Premier League first round, managing only 21
points from a possible 45, would be keen to improve their standing on the league
table with victory over Kotoko at the Wa Park. It is Kotoko, however, who go into
the match with a psychological advantage having beaten Wa All Stars 2-1 at the Baba
Yara Stadium, three weeks ago.

Accra Hearts of Oak, who celebrate a century this year, will be hoping for a
significant improvement in their Premier League performance, after registering over
fifteen new players including former Premier League best player, Mahatma Otoo, for
the second round of the Glo Premier League.
The twenty time league Champions have had a poor season, managing only 19 points
from a possible 45, and lying 9th on the Premier League table with only five wins
this season.
New lads such as Awudu Alhassan, Laryea Emmanuel, Alhassan Shamsu, Eli Kuegbe,
Acheampong Isaac, Owusu Ansah Isaac, Mensah Solomon and Nii Ashitey Clement would be
expected to help move the team further up the league ladder.
Coach Paa Kwesi Fabian, who has received the backing of Hearts’ Management despite
relentless calls for his sack, will be under intense pressure to win, when Hearts
take on Real Tamale United (RTU) at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra on
Sunday. Already RTU, who have been very poor this season with only 3 wins from 15
matches, hold a psychological advantage over Hearts having defeated them 2-1 in the
last week of the Premier League first round.
Premier League leaders, Berekum Chelsea, will be looking to consolidate their lead
at SSSS top of the Premier League table with victory over Mighty Jets on Sunday.
Chelsea have had a phenomenal season, amassing 32 points from a possible 45, and
treating lovers of Premier League football to quality and exciting football this
season. With 10 wins, two draws and only three losses, the Berekum lads have
established themselves as the best side in the country, with 7 points clear of New
Edubiase United who occupy the second position on the league, and 14 and 13 points
clear of Kotoko and Hearts respectively.
The likes of Bismark Idan (joint top-scorer last season), Emmanuel Clottey, Edward
Kpodo, Frank Acheampong, Abdul Basit, Obed Owusu, Alfred Arthur and others have also
established themselves as some of the best players in the League.
Obed Nana Nketiah, Chief Executive of Chelsea has affirmed that Chelsea's primary
objective is to remain in the Glo Premier League.
“The players are hungry for success and the thirst to win something big has been
the driving force. For us, our ambition is to survive the premiership, then we can
talk of the league title’’, he said.
‘’ Winning the league will serve as bonus’’, he added.
Chelsea have yet to lose at home this season and that situation is not likely to
change when they host Mighty Jets at the Golden City Park on Sunday.
Mighty Jets aren’t so mighty after all, having managed only 4 wins this season. A
series of poor performances has left the team with only 17 points from 15 games.
They lie 3rd from bottom on the Premier League table and are in danger of being
relegated if their performance doesn’t improve.
The replacement of veteran coach, Emmanuel Kwesi Afranie with Jonas Amissah has
failed to positively invigorate the team, and having won only one match away from
home this season, a defeat to high-flying Chelsea is almost an inevitability.

Defending Champions, Aduana Stars, who lie third on the league table, will be
seeking to consolidate their position with victory over 5th placed Berekum Chelsea
at Agyemang Badu Park on Sunday. Aduana have 22 points from 15 games and have won 6
matches this season.
Herbert Addo, has transformed the team into disciplined and defensively solid side
who are very difficult to break down. The team has succumbed to only three defeats
this season and are yet to lose at home.
Against an equally formidable Berekum Arsenal side, Aduana will have to play well
above their strength to ensure victory.
Having secured two wins away from home this season, Berekum Arsenal will be hoping
to upset Aduana Stars on Sunday, knowing that victory will see them rise above the
Dormaa lads on the league table.
In another of Sunday's Premier League matches, New Edubiase United, who occupy
second spot on the league table, will be hosts of Kpando Hearts of Lions at the
Gyamfi Park in Bekwai.
New Edubiase have registered their intent to remain in the Premier League with a
series of solid performances this season. The Bekwai based team has 25 points from
15 games, having won 6, drawn 7 and lost only 2 matches this season. They are seven
points adrift of league leaders, Chelsea, and would be keen to improve their
standing with victory over Hearts of Lions.
Hearts of Lions have had a poor season winning 4, drawing 7 and losing 4 matches in
15 games, resulting in 19 points from a possible 45. The Kpando lads have won only
one match away from home this season and should be content with a draw against
high-flying Edubiase.
Edubiase have the psychological advantage going into the match, having held Lions
to a goaless draw at the Kpando park.
Liberty Professionals, the breeding ground of several Ghanaian football stars
including Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Asamoah Gyan and Kwadwo Asamoah, are in
the precarious situation of being relegated this season. The scientific soccer lads
slipped into the relegation zone after a series of unimpressive performances left
them with only 17 points from a possible 45.
The management of Liberty has aptly replaced Coach George Odartey Lamptey with Coach
J.E Sarporg and reinforced the team with new players, in a bid to salvage the team's
season.
Liberty President, Alhaji Sly Tetteh has expressed confidence that his team will
return to winning ways when the second round begins on Sunday.
Liberty will be the guests of 7th placed Ebusua Dwarfs at the Robert Mensah Stadium
in Cape Coast.
Finally, BA Stars, who lie bottom of the league table, have registered 16 new
players in an aggressive attempt to avoid relegation.
The Sunyani based team has a meagre 11 points from 15 matches this season, and would
be hoping for a drastic improvement in fortunes, with the recruitment of new players
including former Premier League Player of the Year, Kweku Essien, Alan Shearer,
James Wanor, veteran Michael Osei, Abubakari Surala, and Mawuli Sogblo.
B.A Stars host AshGold at the Suyani Coronation Park on Sunday and will be keen to
secure all three points at stake in order to boost their chances of remaining in the
Premier League.

It remains to be seen, however, whether B.A can manage a win against a David Duncan
led AshGold side who lie 6th on the league table with 22 points from 15 games.
It is Ashgold who go into the match with a psychological advantage having beaten B.A
Stars 1-0 at the Len Clay Stadium in the last week of the Premier League’s first
round.

By Samuel K. Obour