The biggest rivalry in Ghana’s club football history and to the larger extent the calendar of African Football was put to rest last Sunday at the Baba Yara Stadium when Asante Kotoko defeated Hearts of Oak by 2 – 1 to extend their lead on the table to twelve points.
The uncrowned league champions journey to the capital (Accra) to play as guest to relegation zoned Mighty Jets on Saturday in a match which the Porcupine Warriors are going to use as a thank you service to their teaming supporters in Accra for their support to the club in their quest to winning their 22nd league title.
Asante Kotoko is at the summit of the log with 52 points from 24 matches whiles their counterpart Mighty Jets is third from bottom with just 23 points and are bent on wrestling the three points from the run away league winners but Kotoko would want to finish the league in style meaning losing a point will not be part of their plans.
Looking at both clubs it will sound like a joke for anyone to predict a win for Mighty Jets over Kotoko looking at the materials at the disposal of both clubs as Kotoko’s midfield machine Michael Anaba, Nii Adjei and Michael Akuffo is still red hot but like Chelsea did to Barcelona (one shot, one goal) in the UEFA Champions League semi final everything is possible in football.
Glorious Accra Hearts of Oak will welcome the embattled mysterious Ebusua Dwarfs to the Accra Sports Stadium to query them for their loss at the Robert Mensah Park in the first round.
Hearts of Oak is third on the log with 39 points whiles Ebusua Dwarfs is tenth with 31 points but with disadvantaged for haven’t played some of their home matches away from home after the FA banned them on the 11th March 2012 for crowd violence when they lost 0 – 1 to Aduana Stars at the Robert Mensah Park.
Former skipper of the Black Stars, Charles K. Akunnor who has transformed Hearts of Oak since he took charge from the Serbian Nebojsa Vucicevic about a month ago will be willing to make amends for his sides lose to Kotoko last weekend.
C.K Akunnor will not bench his workaholic midfielder Moro Abubakar whose absence in the middle in their match against Asante Kotoko gave the red army the impetus to rally round the midfield without fear if he’s declared fit by the team’s doctors.
Hearts have a duty to console their fans with a win haven’t lost last weekend but Ebusua Dwarfs are also visiting the capital with a mission and can cause an upset to the phobians.
At the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium, soccer miners Ashantigold fc will play at home to Medeama Sporting Club. Ashantigold (11.7.6) with 40 points currently sit 5 points clear off Medeama who is seventh on the log with 35 points.
Ashantigold’s performance in the second round is worth mentioning as they’ve drawn two and won all their matches. As if that is not enough their leading marksman Yakubu Mohammed follows Emmanuel Baffoe on the goal king chart with 12 goals.
African Champions League campaigners Berekum Chelsea will play as guest to Tema Youth at the Tema Community 3 Park. Chelsea is fourth on the log with 39 points whiles Tema Youth is twelfth with 26 points.
Tema Youth and Chelsea off the pitch are closest of brothers and it’s easier for anyone to predict either a win for Tema Youth or the two clubs sharing the points.
At the Kpando Park, Hearts of Lions will play host to Aduana Stars. Lions have experienced their worst season this year since they joined the elite division a decade ago. The pride of Volta is eleventh on the table with 28 points whiles Aduana Stars on the other hand is ninth with 31 points.
Back to form Berekum Arsenals will play as host to All Stars at the Golden City Park in Berekum. A win for the home side will boost their aim of staying in the premiership and once playing in front of their fans the distance between them and the ultimate is just a thing line.
At the Bechem Park however, second from bottom Bechem united will play as host to fifth placed Liberty Professionals whilst bottomed placed Wassaman united and New Edubiase united will also fist it off at the Tarkwa T&A Park.
PREDICTIONS
M. JETS 2 – 2 KOTOKO
HEARTS OF OAK 2 – 1 DWARFS
ASHANTIGOLD 2 – 1 MEDEAMA
TEMA YOUTH 1 – 1 CHELSEA
LIONS 1 – 0 ADUANA
ARSENAL 2 – 0 ALL STARS
BECHEM UTD 1 – 1 LIBERTY
WASSAMAN 1 – 2 EDUBIASE