Sunday’s GPL Match-Day 27 Preview

With four games to end the 2016 Ghana Premier League (GPL), it is still uncertain which club will win the diadem at the end of the campaign or who will be relegated at the end of the season.

Just four points separates the top four clubs with life at the bottom also an interesting one as the seventh placed team down to the bottom, could all be relegated.

Positions are bound to change after the Match-Day 27 matches on Sunday afternoon with clubs eager to improve on their standing as the season heads to a close.

In the pick of this round of games, Accra Hears of Oak will trek to the Brong Ahafo region to play Bechem United with leaders Wa All Stars at home to Dreams FC while Asante Kotoko hosts Berekum Chelsea with Aduana Stars playing away to WAFA.

Preview:

Bechem: Bechem United v Accra Hearts of Oak

Accra Hearts of Oak will look for their 11^th win of the campaign when they trek to the Brong Ahafo region to play Bechem United at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park on Sunday.

The Phobians who are third on the GPL table will hope to complete the double over Bechem United after they won the first round tie in Accra 3-1.

A win could take them to the top of the standing if other results go their way and, they will be poised to go for the three points against a Bechem United side that is seventh on the log.

Wa: All Stars v Dreams FC

Wa All Stars will look to preserve their leadership of the GPL table when they welcome Dreams FC to the Malik Jabir Park in Wa. In the first round tie played at the Dawu Park, the spoils were shared as the game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.

The leaders will be the odds on favourites to register a win against the league debutants after claiming a hard fought 1-0 victory over New Edubiase United last Sunday in Bekwai.

Dreams FC who are fifth on the ladder and chasing a top four position, will however have something to say about the outcome of this game as they hold ambitions of their own.

Kumasi: Asante Kotoko v Berekum Chelsea

Kumasi Asante Kotoko will be at home to Berekum Chelsea in a game they will need to win if they are to sustain their pursuit of the league title this season.

The Porcupines are fourth on the ladder, three points behind the leaders, and a win will take them towards toughing distance with those above them.

Chelsea who are 11^th on the log, won the first round tie 2-0 at the Golden City Park in Berekum and will look to cause further misery for their hosts at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Sogakope: WAFA v Aduana Stars

Second played Aduana Stars will look to end the unbeaten home run of the West Africa Football Academy (WAFA) when they visit the Red Bull Arena at Sogakope.

A win will take them top of the standing if other results go their way, and, they will be inspired to go for it against the Academy lads who are sixth on the table.

Cape Coast: Ebusua Dwarfs v Medeama SC

Ebusua Dwarfs will play Medeama SC at the Robert Mensah Stadium in Cape Coast and they will look to bounce back from their defeat at the same venue to Bechem United last Sunday.

Dwarfs are ninth on the table and, a win will take them to the seventh position if other results go their way. Medeama SC won the first round tie 2-1 in Tarkwa.

Obuasi: AshantiGold SC v Sekondi Hasaacas

Reigning champions AshantiGold SC will lock horns with relegation threatened Sekondi Hasaacas at the Len Clay Stadium at Obuasi.

The Miners will be looking for their seventh win of the campaign against a Hasaacas side that is yet to win an away game this season.

Hasaacas failed to win the corresponding fixture in the first round, and, it will be difficult to see how they will respond against an AshGold side that is eager to return to winning ways.

Techiman: Techiman City v Liberty Professionals

Debutants Techiman City will look to register their ninth win of the campaign when they welcome Liberty Professionals to the Ohene Ameyaw Park in Techiman.

They hover just above the relegation zone and, cannot afford to lose this fixture in front of their home fans after losing their last two home games.

Liberty Professionals, who are 12^th on the log, will need to avoid defeat to stay above the drop zone and will have to play one of their best games of the season if they are to pick something out of this one.

Tema: Inter Allies v New Edubiase United

A fierce relegation battle will be fought at the Tema Sports Stadium here Inter Allies will host New Edubiase United in a game neither side can afford to lose.

Inter Allies are 15^th on the log, just a place above their opponents and, they could jump to the 12^th position if they win this one and other results go their way.

New Edubiase United could be relegated if they fail to win this one but, it will be a difficult task for them to procure the three points against an Inter Allies side that is bent on avoiding the drop.

 

 

 

 

Sunday’s GPL Match-Day 27 Preview

GPL: Samudeen Returns For WAFA Clash

Highly rated midfielder, Samudeen Ibrahim is likely to feature for Hearts of Oak in their Ghana Premier League Match Week 23 clash with WAFA after cutting short the bereavement leave handed to him by the club to return to training. 

The youngster lost his mother last weekend, but after the Islamic funeral rites came to an end on Monday, he decided to re-join the first team at training much to the surprise of the technical team.

Samudeen was given an unspecified leave of absence by head coach Sérgio Traguil but the young star turned up at training on Wednesday, just five days after the family bereavement.

He trained with the team at the Legon Park on Wednesday and at the Tema Sports Stadium on Thursday morning.

He is likely to train with the team on Friday as they wrap up preparation for Saturday’s league clash with WAFA.

It is however, still unclear whether he will be available for selection on Saturday but coach Sergio insists Samudeen loves to play.

“I am not surprised Samudeen came back so early,” Sergio said.

“He loves to play and he loves to play for me. I do not know yet whether he is in the right frame of mind to play on Saturday.”

GPL: Samudeen Returns For WAFA Clash

Move To Austria Won"t Affect Me - Tetteh

Ghana striker Samuel Tetteh insists his spot in the Black Stars team will not be affected despite his move from Ghana to Austria.

Tetteh has joined Red Salzburg on a four year contract from Ghana Premier League side WAFA but has been loaned to lower tier side FC Liefering.

The young striker has made Black Stars coach Avram Grant’s last five call ups but there are doubts he will maintain his place following the move to lower league.

But Tetteh is confident he has a chance with hardwork.

“I earned all my call ups whiles I was in Ghana but many are saying that since I have moved to Red Bull and with the second team for that matter I will not be called up again,” he said

“I just need to play very well here and leave everything to the coach ( Avram Grant) and see how things go.”

Samuel Tetteh made his debut for  FC Liefering in a pre-season match against TSV St. Johann.

Move To Austria Won"t Affect Me - Tetteh

Gargo Eye WAFA Scalp

Mohammed Cargo hopes the Okwahu United pitch will help his team when they host WAFA in the quarter final of the MTN FA Cup.

The former Real Tamale United head coach is anticipating a tough game, but is optimistic of his side’s success in the game.

“Our match against WAFA SC is a difficult because they aren’t a small club at all,” Gargo said in a pre-match conference.

“If you look at the facilities at their disposal, we would have been competing with the Europeans if many of our clubs have”.

The academy side are one of the few clubs to use an astro turf in the country and the Okwahu coach is hoping the natural pitch will be to his side’s advantage.

“It will be an advantage for us taking into consideration where we train and where they also train. Some these minors’ factors play huge role in football sometimes.

“If we are able to get a dry pitch it will be an advantage because they are used to the carpet type of pitches. Our pitch isn’t a carpet type but we are always comfortable playing on it.” he said.

Gargo Eye WAFA Scalp

Samuel Tetteh Completes Red Bull Salzburg Move

West Africa Football Academy (WAFA) striker Samuel Tetteh has signed to play for Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg.

The Black Stars player has signed a four-year contract with the Austrian top-flight side and will feature in the country’s league next season.

Tetteh, has scored five goals including a hat-trick against Sekondi Hasaacas in the ongoing Ghana Premier League for WAFA at the half way point of the season.

The player is one of the most exciting young talents to emerge from the Ghanaian league in recent times, and, it is expected that he will carry that promise to the Austrian league.

Tetteh is a member of the Black Stars squad that has qualified to play in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament to be played in Gabon.

His performances in Europe will go a long way in determining whether he will be part of Coach Avram Grant’s final 23 for the competition next year.

 

Samuel Tetteh Completes Red Bull Salzburg Move

WAFA Lose Key Player To Salburg

West Africa Football Academy Sporting Club has confirmed the  departure of Samuel Tetteh to Austrian side, Red Bull Salzburg.

The 19-year-old signed four-year deal with Red Bull Salzburg, and will not be part of the club’s playing for the second round of the 2015-16 Ghana Premier League (GPL).

Samuel Tetteh scored five goals in the first half of the Ghana Premier League season.

He has also featured for the Black Stars in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, and 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

WAFA Lose Key Player To Salburg

WAFA Confirm Killa Departure

Ghana Premier League (GPL) side WAFA have confirmed the departure of coach John Kila after six-years stay at the club.

A statement from the club’s official Facebook read:

“Management will like to thank First Team coach John Killa for his services to the Academy.

“Killa moves on after SIX years where he served with his heart and soul. “He put together a young team which qualified to the Premier League in 2014.

“His works and dignity will forever remain with us and he has become a member of the the ‪#‎wafasc family.

“We wish him success in his endeavours.”

 The Dutch tactician is expected to take over the coaching job of Indian side Bengaluru FC in the coming days.

Kila in his six years stint at the club qualified the Sogakope based side [formerly Feyernood] to the Ghana Premier League in the 2014/15 season.

WAFA Confirm Killa Departure

GPL Match-Day 12 Preview: All Stars v WAFA

The Wa Stadium will be the center of attraction when homesters, Wa All Stars host the West Africa Football Academy (WAFA) in a Match-Day 12 fixture of the Ghana Premier League (GPL).

All Stars are second on the table with 20 points, one behind leaders Hearts of Oak after 11 games.

They will hope for a win to mount pressure on the Phobians who play Sekondi Hasaacas in Accra behind closed doors as they begin the sanctions imposed on them by the Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for failing to control their supporters in their home loss to All Stars.

The northern club have won six of the 11 games they have played this season, and, will be confident of winning this one against a WAFA side that has lost four of the five away games they have played so far.

All Stars are unbeaten at home and, will press home this advantage as they seek to continue with their fine form up north.

WAFA have been very disappointing away from their Sogakope base, and will need to put together a decent run of form on the road if they hope to finish in the top four as they promised before the start of the season.

They have 15 points from 11 games, and, sit in ninth position on the GPL log as we head into these midweek games.

Match Officials:

 

REF: Samuel K. Yeboah

 

ASST 1: Joseph Sey

 

ASST 2: Alex Ennin

 

4TH REF: Amofa Sarkodie

 

MC: Charles Darkwah

GPL Match-Day 12 Preview: All Stars v WAFA

WAFA, Rockets, Make MTN FA Cup Progress

Ghana Premier League (GPL) outfit, WAFA and GN Bank Division One (DOL), side Wa Rockets have advanced to the quarter-finals of this year’s MTN FA Cup competition.

The Academy lads beat Emmanuel FC 1-0 in their round of 16 tie at the Red Bull Arena, Sogakope on Friday to advance as they chase their first major silverware in the Ghanaian game.

Caleb Amankwah scored the lone goal for WAFA who will now await the draw for the last eight of the competition with high hopes.

Also on Friday, Isaac Bawa got the only goal for Wa Rockets who gained a 1-0 victory over Asokwa Deportivo at the Wa Stadium.

The DOL side are also confident of making further progress in this year’s competition, and, will anticipate a favourable draw in the next round.

WAFA, Rockets, Make MTN FA Cup Progress

WAFA Youngster Goes Under Knife

West African Football Academy (WAFA) prodigy, Majeed Ashimeru has undergone a successful surgery in Belgium.

The 20-year-old suffered a knee injury prior to the start of the 2015-16 Ghana Premier League (GPL) season, and he’s since been on the sidelines.

Ashimeru who was phenomenal for the Sogakope-based club has been missed for the better part on the ongoing campaign, and if the doctors stipulated time for his full recovery is anything to go by, he will be out for the rest of the season.

According to the official Twitter account of WAFA, Ashimeru is expected to be in the treatment room for the next six weeks after a successful the surgery on Friday.

Below is the full statement from the club.

Midfielder Majeed Ashimeru has undergone surgery in Belgium to correct a knee injury.

The talented youngster went under the knife yesterday (Friday) at the AZ Monica Hospital in the city of Antwerp.

Dr.Geert Declercq, famous specialist and also doctor of the Belgium national team, performed the operation.

Ashimeru will spend close to six weeks on the sidelines to recovery fully fit.

 Management wishes him a speedy recovery.

 

WAFA Youngster Goes Under Knife

Martin Antwi Blames WAFA SC Poor Away Form On Hard Luck

West African Football Academy Sporting club enterprising midfielder Martin Antwi has blamed hard luck for the dreadful form of his side away from home on the domestic league.

The Academy boys have been ruthless at home but remains winless in the opening five away ties honoured so far.

Talented midfielder for the Sogakope outfit however blamed hard luck for their away form despite four matches and scoring just one goal.

The 20 year old attacking midfielder ruled out immaturity or difference in playing ground as the reason for the dreadful show on the road.

Antwi told sportscrusader.com , “our play away form in the league is down to hard luck and not technical setbacks. We have played very good football away from home but just don’t enjoy the luck of others on other occasions”.

He added, “We are a very matured side as at now and to have played that bad away from home must not be technically related or differences in the playing grounds as people are thinking of. We are however working hard to put a stop to that poor form and end the season in a respectable position”.

The Academy boys have scored an incredible 11 goals at their artificial turf in Sogakope but has managed just one goal in 450 away matches played so far.

John Killa’s men currently occupies the seventh slot on the log in the opening 10 rounds of league matches honoured.

Martin Antwi Blames WAFA SC Poor Away Form On Hard Luck

Tetteh Blames Red Card For Loss

West Africa Football Academy winger, Samuel Tetteh has blamed their 2-0 defeat to Bechem United due to Kennedy Boateng’s early sending-off.

Boating was shown the exit after he pulled down a Bechem United player in the penalty box which was expertly converted by midfielder Aminu Mohammed.

Striker Patrick Afriyie scored again to make it 2-0 to put the game beyond the Sogakope-based side’s reach.

Tetteh said after the game that they were undone by the dismissal of Boateng and that the team was unlucky.

He noted that the poor away results churned by the club is due to countless problems.

“It was a good game. We intended grabbing the maximum three points or a point at least but we were unlucky. The red card we had changed the game entirely,” Tetteh said.

“It is not easy to get good results away from home in football and we find it difficult to impose our play due to the condition of away pitches, not ruling out bad officiating at times.

“We were affected by the red card because it changed our game plan. It came early and we had to adjust our tactics and play to suit 10 men,” Tetteh explained.

WAFA lie eighth on the Ghana Premier League table with 14 points after 10 rounds of matches.

Tetteh Blames Red Card For Loss

Wafa Poor Form Not Tactical

West Africa Football Academy (WAFA), coach John Killa has shirked responsibility for consistent poor away results in the Ghana Premier League.

The Dutchman’s continuously altered side lost 2-0 to Bechem United on Sunday, as they continue to find a remedy to their poor away form at the Red Bull Arena in Ghana’s elite division.

He is of the opinion that player faults have played a major role to WAFA SC’s disappointing travels.

Speaking after the game, the coach who saw his 10-man team, lose again in an away game feels they were less expectant of a red card so early in the game and that changed the game.

“Our preparations before the game was not what we expected and the red card as well, but when the red card came, it was a mistake.

“We received a penalty in addition to the red card and at that moment, I had to reorganize the team. I think the boys did well especially in the last 10 minutes of the first half, where we created some free kicks, but the game was changing and you have to organize your team very well if you are playing with 10 men,” John Killa said in a post-match interview.

“We were waiting for the equalizer in the second half, because we knew that we had some chances between the second half only to see a poor marking from a free kick by our right defender giving us away,” Killa added.

Wafa Poor Form Not Tactical

ST John"s Ambulance Ghana Wants WAFA Punished

ST John’s Ambulance Ghana, an ambulance service provider who render first aid services in the Ghana Premier League (GPL), wants West Africa Football Academy (WAFA), punished  for manhandling a first aid personnel.

West Africa Football Academy (WAFA), were accused of manhandling a first aid personnel during their one-all stalemate against Hearts of Oak in a Ghana Premier League match at the Accra Sports Stadium last week.

According to ST John’s Ambulance Ghana, Abubakari Ibrahim, Mohammed Alhassan, Samuel Tetteh, Emmanuel Boateng and Boateng Kennedy exhibited an attitude which should be condemned by the sporting fraternity.

In a letter to the National Sports Authority, copied to the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), and the  Chairman of the Premier League Board, St John’s Ambulance demand that the players should be brought to book.

ST John"s Ambulance Ghana Wants WAFA Punished

Hearts Players Are Not Down- Skipper

Accra Hearts of Oak captain Robin Gnagne insists the players are not down despite dropping two points at home to WAFA in midweek .

The Phobians played out a 1-1 drawn game with WAFA on Match Week 8 of the ongoing Ghana Premier League on Wednesday.

Striker Cosmos Dauda pulled Hearts level after the visitors had taken the lead, but they were frustrated by the antics of the Academy boys, who wasted a lot of time in the second half to leave the capital with a point.

Speaking in an interview in the build up to this weekend’s date with Ashgold, captain Gnange admits the team is not down and they will work to pick up points in the next game.

“We came all out to get the three points but unfortunately, we got one point,” he told the club’s official website.

“But we are not down as you could see from the second half. We were determined and we pushed a lot to get another goal to get the three points.

“But it is football; we were very determined we are going back to correct one or two things and next Sunday, we will see what we can do.”

The Ivorian defender anticipates a tough game on Sunday against defending league champions Ashgold, but says they will be well prepared for the game.

“The Ashgold match will be a tough game for us and so we need to prepare very well.”

Hearts Players Are Not Down- Skipper

We Were Determined To End Our Poor Away Run – WAFA Goalkeeper

Razak Abalorah has said his West Africa Football Academy (WAFA) side was determined to end their poor away run in this season’s Ghana Premier League (GPL) when they played Accra Hearts of Oak last Wednesday in Accra.

Prior to that encounter, the academy lads had lost all their three away games by a similar margin (0-1) to Berekum Chelsea, Aduana Stars and Dreams FC, and, the goalkeeper said they were determined to halt that run going into this game.

The Academy lads frustrated the Phobians to a 1-1 stalemate at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra to record their first away point of the season.

“We were determined not to lose this one,” he said after the game, adding that they will build on this performance in their subsequent away games.

“Our game plan worked for us as we did not them to settle into any rhythm that could make them trouble us on the day,” he added, insisting that they did everything possible to win but Hearts fought back to earn a draw.

WAFA opened the scoring in the first half through Charles Boateng before Cosmos Dauda leveled for the Phobians in the second as the spoils were shared.

They will next play Ebusua Dwarfs at Sogakope on Sunday before heading to Bechem to play Bechem United in their next GPL away game the week after.

We Were Determined To End Our Poor Away Run – WAFA Goalkeeper

Samuel Tetteh Apologize For Red Card

West Africa Football Academy (WAFA), winger, Samuel Tetteh has apologized for his unsportsmanlike conduct that saw him sent off in their 1-1 stalemate against Hearts of Oak  in the Ghana Premier League last Wednesday.

The former Black Satellites player was shown a second yellow card, reducing WAFA to 10 players, and he has apologized to all his teammates and the club for his behaviour.

“I want to apologize to my fans about what happened today, it wasn’t my intention to get a red card,” he said after the game.

“I know they are disappointed but I want to say I am sorry to be missing the team’s next game against Dwarfs.

He has so far netted five goals in the Ghana Premier league, two adrift Liberty Professionals Latif Blessing.

Samuel Tetteh Apologize For Red Card

Three Things Learned From Hearts" Draw With WAFA

Accra Hearts of Oak were held at home to a 1-1 draw by West Africa Football Academy (WAFA) in a Match-Day Eight encounter of the 2015/16 Ghana Premier League (GPL) in Accra.

The game was marred at the later part by a drama – as WAFA wasted time by faking injuries that got Samuel Tetteh sent off for fighting a member of the match day medical team.

Here are three things we learned from the game:

1. Start Games Right From The Woods

Hearts under Japanese-American coach, Kenichi Yatsuhashi are noted for their strong finish to matches contrary to a slow start to games and this has seen teams who love to possess the ball – Wa All Stars and recently WAFA take advantage and make things tougher for the Phobians and this Kenichi has to work on if he is to make history winning a trophy for the first time in eight years.

2. Seal A Leaky Defense  

Hearts have been leaking goals lately and it’s surprising as the Phobians had not conceded a goal in their first three games of the season.

But in recent times the Rainbow club has conceded six goals in three games in the league and Coach Keni has to get to work and immediately seal a leaking defense to get back on winning ways.

3. Find Natural Pacy Wingers

Teams have found an antidote to a Hearts team that tends to play through the middle.

Hearts have built a team that uses the ball more through the middle and oppositions that have pacy wingers have turned to a quick switch of play to attack Hearts and this appears to be working.

Three Things Learned From Hearts" Draw With WAFA

WAFA’s Samuel Tetteh Apologizes For Sending Off

West African Football Academy (WAFA) forward, Samuel Tetteh has apologized after he was sent off during his side’s 1-1 draw with Hearts of Oak at the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday.

The highly rated Black Stars striker was sent off, after receiving two yellow cards- the first for a challenge on an opponent and the second for dissent.

And speaking to reporters after the match, Tetteh registered his apology to his fans, expressing his disappointment at missing WAFA’s next game.

“I want to apologize to my fans about happened today, it wasn’t my intention to get a red card,” he said, adding that, “I know they are disappointed, but I want to say am sorry to be missing the team’s next game against Dwarfs.

Samuel Tetteh’s sending off on Wednesday means that he misses the game against Ebusua Dwarfs at the Robert Mensah Stadium in Cape Coast this weekend.

WAFA’s Samuel Tetteh Apologizes For Sending Off

WAFA Aim For First Ever Win Over Hearts

West Africa Football Academy (WAFA) will be seeking a first ever win over Accra Hearts of Oak when they take on the Phobians in a Ghana Premier League (GPL) Match-Day Eight encounter at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra this afternoon (Wednesday).

Since joining the Ghanaian top-flight in 2004, WAFA formerly Feyenoord Academy, they have encountered the Phobians eight times in the league, but, have yet to taste victory over the capital club.

Hearts of Oak have won six of those encounters with the other two ending in a stalemate. WAFA will therefore hope to break that jinx in this afternoon’s game.

However, this season, the Academy boys have lost all their away games by a similar result, 0-1 against Chelsea (Match-Day Two); Aduana Stars (Match-Day Four) and Dreams FC (Match-Day Six)

Beating Hearts will be a huge task as the Phobians have won two of their three home games and lost the other. They will hope to make it three wins out of four games on home soil.

Whether Hearts wins or WAFA claims a first ever win over the Phobians will be answered this afternoon at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

Bellow is the head-to head record of the two teams

2004             Feyenoord 0 – 1 Hearts

Hearts 3 – 0   Feyenoord

2005/6          Hearts 2 – 1 Feyenoord

Feyenoord 0 – 0 Hearts

2006/7          Hearts 2 – 1 Feyenoord

Feyenoord 0 – 2 Hearts

2014/15        Hearts 1 – 0 WAFA

WAFA 0 – 0 HEARTS

2016             Hearts? – ? WAFA

WAFA Aim For First Ever Win Over Hearts