Soccer News of Saturday, 1 June 2013

Source: ghanasoccernet

Tema Youth facing realities of relegation

Tema Youth are likely to be relegated from the Ghanaian top-flight despite lying just above the relegation zone.

The Tema-based side are 13th with 30 points, but they occupy the spot on a better head-to-head advantage over Heart of Lions who also accrued same number of points.

With just two games to end the Ghana Premier League season, Youth must pick all six points available if they are to go within points level with All Stars (12th) if they lose Berekum Arsenal and Aduana Stars. All Stars and Youth shared the spoils in 1-1 draws in both games played between the two this season.

In that case, superior goal aggregate will be used to determine which of the two sides save their top-flight status.

There is also a possibility of Heart of Lions and Youth going on same points level after the final games of the season.

That will spell doom for Youth as they lost in both legs against their new relegation-battling rivals.

Lions hammered the Habour Boys 3-0 in Kpando before beating them 1-0 in Tema in the return fixture.

Youth returned to the Ghanaian top-flight in the 2011/12 after being relegated in the 2009/10 season and finished 11th on their return.

Youth’s imminent return to the wilderness is a worry for Ghana’s youth football watchers as they have been a reliable source of talented young players to the Ghana junior national teams.

The current Ghana U20 side boost of striker Francis Narh, Jeremiah Akorful and Moses Odjer as they were all brought into the limelight by Youth.

Atletico Madrid youngster Thomas Partey who is also training with the Black Satellites is also a product of the club.

The only situation that can save Youth now is when they are able to manage victory over King Faisal in Tema and do the unthinkable by beating an in-form Hearts of Oak side at the Accra Sports Stadium and hope Lions drop points.