Accra, Jan 10, GNA - Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Real

Tamale United (RTU) seem to have put their troubled first round

showings behind them after recording crucial wins away from

home. Kotoko's 2-0 win in Wa against All Stars marks a good start to

the second round; a turn around that their expectant followers will

hope becomes permanent. The brace from recruit Nathaniel

Asamoah who played against his former club makes the victory

much more interesting.

The 93Porcupine Warriors" has moved significantly from the

bottom half on the log to mid-table and if this is the result of

recruiting over ten players and starting seven of them in their first

game, then Kotoko could look back and say they got it right. RTU's lone goal win in Accra over Accra Hearts of Oak, their

first since joining the elite division 32 years ago, might not have

been enough to lift them out of the relegation zone but to say it will

certainly pep up their confidence is an understatement. The victory, a double for the 91Pride of the North' who

hammered the Phobians 2-1 in the last game of first round also

brought to the fore RTU's determination to rewrite history and get

their sorry campaign back on course.

Hearts laboured to fare any better than the side that played in

the first round despite the inclusion of Mahatma Otoo and Kamil

Osman, who returned from Tunisia and Denmark respectively after

unsuccessful stints. The loss will push the Phobians off the pace but in the midst of

the blame game, the analysis and postmortem of their

performance, one soul whose fate hangs on a thread is head

Coach Paa Kwasi Fabian. Pressure on the former Asante Kotoko and Heart of Lions

coach, a nutritionist will grow as his competence and capabilities

come into question. Obviously, Fabian will need to get the team to

hit their strides soon enough or consider jumping before he gets

the push.

A point off Ebusua Dwarfs in Cape Coast was considered a

good enough result for troubled Dansoman Liberty Professionals

whose campaign has travelled from poor to worse this season.

The engagement of Coach J. E. Sarpong seems to have paid off

sooner than thought and in the ensuing days, how the tough talking

coach will manage to blend the wealth of talent at his disposal to

build a winsome team remains interesting. Ashgold stumbled away to B.A. Stars playing in their new

=91home', Essipong near Sekondi in the Western Region. The lone

goal victory was however not enough to lift the Sunyani based

team from the foot of the table but at least it gives them a breather

that could be built on in their quest to avoid relegation.

At the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Medeama FC scored

twice to pick a point off King Faisal whiles Chelsea opened a

seven-point gab at the apex of the summit by beating struggling

debutants, Tudu Might Jets 2-1 at the Golden City Park, Berekum. Defending Champions, Aduana Stars kept their impressive

home record intact with a 2-1 win over Berekum Arsenals whilst

New Edubiase United kept the chase on leaders Chelsea by beating

visiting Kpando Heart of Lions by the game score line.