MTN FA Cup Semi-Final Double-Header In Kumasi On Sunday

The Ghana Premier League (GPL) takes a break this weekend to make way for the MTN FA Cup semi-final duels which comes off in Kumasi on Sunday.

Both games will be played at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi and will see two Premier League clubs taking on opponents from the second tier competition.

It will be the first ever double-header semi-final games in the history of the competition to be played at the same venue and will see GPL outfit Bechem United facing Wa Rockets of the GN Bank Division One League (DOL) in the first semi-final match which will kick off at 3:00pm.

Bechem United kicked out Asante Kotoko on penalties in the quarter-finals stage and will be the odds on favourites to advance to the final of the competition.

Wa Rockets advanced to this stage after beating Wa All Stars 1-0 in a fierce Upper West regional derby played at the Wa Park.

The second game of the day will kick off at 6:00pm and will see the 1986 winners Okwahu United of the DOL taking on Premiership side, Liberty Professionals at the same venue.

Okwahu United beat Premiership outfit, WAFA 1-0 at the quarter-final stage of the competition with Liberty accounting for another DOL side, Elmina Sharks 3-0.

The FA Cup Committee has announced ticket prices for this weekend’s games as:

Popular Stand – GH¢ 3.00 (MTN Credit included)

VIP – GH¢ 10.00 (MTN Credit included)

 

MTN FA Cup Semi-Final Double-Header In Kumasi On Sunday

Kotoko Back To Training Ahead Of Hearts Game After Dwarfs Humiliation

Kumasi Asante Kotoko returned to training on Thursday morning after their heavy 4-1 alienation against Ebusua Dwarfs on Wednesday in their Match-Day 20 Ghana Premier League (GPL) encounter played in Cape Coast.

They have started their preparations for Sunday’s big clash with arch rivals Accra Hearts of Oak at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi knowing they cannot afford to lose guard ahead of this clash.

The entire playing body reported to work at their Adako Jachie training ground under acting coach Michael Osei who has come in for some heavy criticism following a run of poor results lately.

The Porcupines have not won in the GPL in their last three games and the defeat to Dwarfs at the Robert Mensah Stadium in Cape Coast was their biggest in the league in recent seasons.

They have dropped to fourth on the table from their previous second position, and trail the leaders Hearts of Oak incidentally the side they face on Sunday by five points.

Pressure is on Coach Osei and his technical staff to produce a result in this game, and they know they have to quickly put this latest setback behind them and look up to the Hearts of Oak game on Sunday.

The former Ghana international will continue to prepare his charges for the rest of the week and hope that on match-day, they will rise up to the task in a game they know they cannot afford to drop points if their hopes of winning the ultimate at the end of the season is to be sustained.

Kotoko Back To Training Ahead Of Hearts Game After Dwarfs Humiliation

Sergio Reaffirms His Confidence In Soulama Ahead Of Kotoko Clash

Coach of Accra Hearts of Oak, Sergio Tranguil has reaffirmed his trust in Abdulaye Soulama as his safest pair of hands going into the ‘Super Clash’ against their rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Sunday in their Match-Day 21 fixture of the Ghana Premier League (GPL)  at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday.

Soulama was a subject of ridicule by some fans of the club  after his howler in their first meeting Accra, gifted the Porcupine Warriors all three points .

In a post match interview after their 1-0 win over Berekum Chelsea in their midweek encounter in Accra, Sergio said; “For me the mistake he did in the past is a non issue, he has kept two clean sheets after joining the first team and I am very confident in him as my safest pair of hands”.

Soulama who won the man of the match against Berekum Chelsea pulled of two magnificent saves with helped secure Hearts all three points as they kept their leadership of the table.

It remains tobe seen whether Soulama will be trusted to be in goal on Sunday against his former club in this all important clash with the points very crucial to both sides.

 

Sergio Reaffirms His Confidence In Soulama Ahead Of Kotoko Clash

Asante Kotoko-Ifeanyi Ubah Friendly On Wednesday Cancelled

Kotoko will no longer play Nigerian side, Ifeanyi Ubah in the friendly international match that was scheduled to take place at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Wednesday at 5pm.

Communications Manager, Kwaku  Ahenkorah in a brief chat with the Club’s official website mentioned that, the game, which was being organised by kit sponsors Mafro has been cancelled as its arrangement hit a rough patch at the last minute.

The Porcupines have been playing friendly matches in wait for the season that has been unduly delayed. The team has so far played 11 trial matches faring well not just in terms of performance but also recording impressive wins.

Last Sunday, they posted a confident 2-0 win over Bechem United and expextations are that, they would keep their winning form throughout the league season.

The Ghana Football Association last week announced that, the Premier League will start on February 20 and when it does, Kotoko will certainly be the team to beat.

Asante Kotoko-Ifeanyi Ubah Friendly On Wednesday Cancelled

Asante Kotoko"s Opponents FK Jagodina To Arrive In Ghana On Saturday

Organisers of Asante Kotoko’s the 80th-anniversary Cup Match have told the Club’s official website that, FK Jagodina will arrive in Ghana on Saturday, January 2, 2016.

Initially, the FK Jagodina team were originally scheduled to arrive in Ghana today Friday 1st January 2016, but opted for Saturday, a day before the match.

“They are coming on Saturday. I can confirm that” the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pacific Football Ghana Limited, Eric Oppong-Yeboah said in an interview on New Year’s Eve.

The official website of Jagodina FK, www.fkjagodina.org.rs in confirmation of their visit wrote:

“Jagodina [will be in the city of Kumasi] for the first time in its history to play an international friendly match on the African continent… Specifically, Jagodina will be the guests at the celebration of the 80th birthday of the famous football club from Ghana”.

The game comes off at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. Kickoff is at 5:30pm.

Pacific Football Ghana Limited have for months now been working hard to get the friendly international game played and are leaving nothing to chance to ensure that the match, which has seen several postponements since September 2015 is eventually honoured.

Asante Kotoko"s Opponents FK Jagodina To Arrive In Ghana On Saturday

FK Jagodina Advance Team Leave For Accra

A five-member advance team of Serbian club, FK Jagodina has left Belgrade to Istanbul enroute to Accra this evening.

The entire Jagodina team will however come on Saturday, Asantekotokosc.com understands.

They are coming as Kotoko’s opponent in the 80th anniversary cup match.

Eric Oppong-Yeboah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pacific Football Ghana Limited who are organizing the game said in an interview that, the advance team will touch down at the Kotoka International Airport on board a Turkish Airline at 7:20pm.

“The advance party has already left Belgrade for Istanbul, Turkey heading for Accra” he disclosed.  “They will be in this evening and the contingent itself are expected on Saturday” he added.

The game is on Sunday, January 3 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi.

Kickoff is 5:30pm.

FK Jagodina Advance Team Leave For Accra

Asante Kotoko"s Opponents Jagodina Arrive In Accra On Friday

Fudbalski Klub Jagodina of Serbia, opponents of Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s 80th-anniversary game, arrive on Friday ahead of Sunday’s game, according to the organisers, Pacific Football Ghana Limited.

The Serbian side became the substitute following the failure of Greece side, Veria FC, to confirm their participation.

The anniversary match which was originally scheduled to come off two months ago has seen several postponements due to circumstances beyond the control of the organisers.

“Fudbalski Klub Jagodina has replaced Veria FC and the game is set for this Sunday because everything has been put in place.”

“ The Serbian side will arrive on Friday ahead of the Sunday’s game,” the CEO of Pacific Football, Eric Oppong-Yeboah, added.

Kotoko will use the game as part of their preparations for next season’s Premier League.

Asante Kotoko"s Opponents Jagodina Arrive In Accra On Friday