We Will Not Be Complacent In Final Four Games – Preko

Assistant coach Yaw Preko has said Accra Hearts of Oak will not be complacent going into the last four games of the first round of the 2015/2016 Ghana Premier League (GPL) season.

The Phobians lead the standing by a point after 11 games, and, will next play Sekondi Hasaacas at home as they seek to preserve their leadership of the table.

Further games before the first round ends, will come against Aduana Stars at Dormaa, Liberty Professionals in Accra and Dreams FC at Dawu.

And Preko says they will not be complacent going into these games as there is a lot at stake to be won by the club.

”We have some very tough games ahead of us to close the first round of the league, and will approach them with all seriousness, hoping to win all,” Preko told the club’s official newspaper, the Hearts News.

“These are games that will help define how we will approach the second half of the season, and, we intend to win them all to maintain our position on top of the table,” he added.

The Phobians will head into the Hasaacas game, one point ahead of second place Wa All Stars, and, Preko believes a win will set them up for the rest of campaign.

“We know the quality of Hasaacas, and, we will not take them lightly on Wednesday; they have lost all their away games, but, that does not mean we will have it easy,” the former Ghana international said.

“Playing against a big club like Hearts of Oak will inspire them to put out a performance worthy of note, and, we are aware of this and, have been preparing well for them,” he assured.

“It will be the same approach in the other three games after this, and, we believe we can produce the results that will keep us at the top of the ladder when the first round ends,” the deputy Ghana U-20 coach added.

“These are all difficult games, but, we trust in the quality of our boys to step-up to the table and, perform very well at anytime,” he promised.

We Will Not Be Complacent In Final Four Games – Preko

Sunday’s GPL Games

The thrills and excitement in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) will continue today with Match-Day 11 games to be played at all but one league center.

Seven games will be played with the encounter between Liberty Professionals and Medeama SC at Dansoman postponed as a result of the latter’s involvement in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Berekum: Berekum Chelsea vs Hearts of Oak

Accra Hearts of Oak will travel to the Brong Ahafo region to face the might of Berekum Chelsea at the Golden City Park on Sunday.

The Phobians are wounded lions going into this game, after losing the super clash with bitter rivals Asante Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday.

Hearts will be out to protect their unbeaten away record as they seek to end the good run of Chelsea at home. Chelsea has won all their five home games and will not like to bow to a Hearts of Oak side that lost their last game in the GPL.

It should be a game for fans in Berekum to savour and observers will hope it leaves up to its billing as the top-liner of the weekend’s run of games.

Techiman: Techiman City vs Wa All Stars

Techiman City will host league leaders Wa All Stars at the Nana Ameyaw Park in a game they will look to protect their unbeaten home run on this, their debut season in the Ghanaian top-flight.

All Stars lost their last encounter 0-1 to Medeama SC at Tarkwa last Sunday, and will not like to lose for the second game running, knowing they could be overtaken at the top should results go against them.

Obuasi: AshantiGold SC vs Bechem United

Defending champions AshantiGold SC will hope to return to winning ways when they welcome Bechem United to the Len Clay Stadium at Obuasi. The Miners have not won in their last two games and will be out to make amends in this encounter.

United have lost all their away games this season, and, it will be difficult to see how they will address this situation as they visit the home of the champions.

Kumasi: Asante Kotoko vs Ebusua Dwarfs

Kumasi Asante Kotoko will be home at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi for the visit of Ebusua Dwarfs on Sunday. The Porcupines will be buoyed by their slim 1-0 win over Hearts of Oak in Accra on Monday, and will look to post another win in this tie.

Dwarfs have had a poor run in their away encounters this season, as they have picked just one point from their five games. However, they have found memories of the Baba Yara Stadium, and, would be inspired to perform against Kotoko.

Dormaa: Aduana Stars vs Dreams FC

Aduana Stars have won their last three games, and, they will be in confident mood when they welcome debutants Dreams FC to the Nana Agyemang Badu II Park at Dormaa.

They are the form team in the GPL at the moment, and will look to make things difficult for Dreams FC at their favourite venue.

Sogakope: WAFA vs Inter Allies

Relegation threatened Inter Allies will make the short trip from their Tema base to Sogakope to play the academy boys of WAFA at the Red Bull Arena.

WAFA have won four and drawn one of their five home games, and will be difficult hosts for an Inter Allies side that has not won in their last three games.

Essipong: Sekondi Hasaacas vs New Edubiase United

Sekondi Hasaacas will seek to return to winning ways when they welcome New Edubiase United to the Sekondi Stadium at Essipong.

They have lost their last three games and will be out to make amends against a United side that has not lost in their last three.

Sunday’s GPL Games

GPL Update: Hasaacas Has Worse Defensive Record After Nine Games

Sekondi Hasaacas has the worse defensive record of all the 16 teams after nine games in the ongoing Ghana Premier League (GPL) even at this early stage.

The club has conceded 18 goals in their opening nine games of the season and the prospects of them adding to that tally in their next game, is high.

They visit the Dawu Park this weekend to take on the might of Dreams FC who have showed a very positive mood at home on their debut in the Ghanaian top-flight league.

Dreams FC have scored seven goals in the nine goals they have played so far, and, against such a porous defence, they will fancy their chances of adding to that tally.

Bechem United and Medeama SC have both conceded 13 goals, with the later having played a game less. They have an outstanding game with Inter Allies this afternoon (Wednesday) at home in Tarkwa.

The team with the best defensive record so far is Wa All Stars who have conceded four followed by WAFA who have let in five.Bechem United, New Edubiase United and Ebusua Dwarfs have each scored six goals from nine games indicating that they hold the record for the least returning rate in front of goal.

Of the nine games played, All Stars have won the most games, six, followed by Hearts of Oak, Liberty Professionals and Berekum Chelsea who have all won five games.

Bechem United, Ebusua Dwarfs, Medeama SC and Hasaacas have all lost five games with Hearts of Oak remaining the only club yet to lose an away game this season.

GPL Update: Hasaacas Has Worse Defensive Record After Nine Games

GPL Match-Day Seven Preview - Seven Games

Action in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) continues this weekend with games at seven of the eight league centers as the competition becomes keener game-by-game.

All the matches this weekend will be played on Sunday with none scheduled to be televised by broadcast partners of the competition, Super Sport.

Techiman: Techiman City v Hearts of Oak

The biggest match in the Brong Ahafo region will be at Techiman where homesters Techiman City will lock horns with Premier Club, Accra Hearts of Oak at the Nana Ameyaw Park.

City will be looking to keep their unbeaten home record going in this, their debut season in the Ghanaian top-flight league. They have won all their home games and will seek to make life difficult for the Phobians.

Hearts of Oak who are second on the GPL table, lost their unbeaten record to Wa All Stars last Sunday in Accra, and will not like to concede a second defeat on the trot.

Wa: All Stars v Ebusua Dwarfs

League leaders Wa All Stars will be out to keep their position on the log going when they welcome Ebusua Dwarfs to the Wa Stadium in northern Ghana.

They are the only unbeaten side in the competition after six games, and will feel confident of keeping that going when the host a Dwarfs side that has lost two of the three away games they have played.

Berekum: Berekum Chelsea v Aduana Stars

Berekum Chelsea and Aduana Stars will contest a Brong Ahafo regional derby at the Golden City Park, Berekum in what promises to be a hotly contested affair.

Chelsea are one of the strongest sides at home and indeed, are unbeaten there this season, they will therefore seek to end the three game unbeaten run of Aduana Stars who have not lost since losing their opening three games.

Kumasi: Asante Kotoko v Liberty Professionals

Troubled Kumasi Asante Kotoko will seek to put the confusion in their camp behind them when they welcome an in-form Liberty Professionals side to the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

The Porcupines are rooted to the bottom of the table, and, need points badly to climb up in position. They face a liberty Professionals side that has showed some promise this season, and, will make life difficult for them in front of their home fans.

Obuasi: AshantiGold SC v Dreams FC

Defending champions, AshantiGold SC will look to return to winning ways when they welcome newcomers Dreams FC to the Len Clay Stadium at Obuasi.

The Miners were humbled 5-1 by Liberty Professionals in their game, and have not won since the opening day of the season. Dreams FC will look to exploit that as they go in search of their second away win of the campaign.

Tema: Inter Allies v Bechem United

Inter Allies have also not won since the opening day, and, will look to end that poor run when they host Bechem United at the Tema Park, They were humbled 3-1 by Dwarfs last Saturday and need to start picking up wins to get out of the relegation zone.

Bechem United have lost all their away games and could be found wanting, playing against one of the strongest clubs at home in the Ghanaian game.

Sogakope: WAFA v New Edubiase United

WAFA hold a hundred per cent record at the Red Bull Arena and will be confident of making it four wins out of four when they play New Edubiase United.

United are one of the poor travelers in the Ghanaian game and will need to defend very well if they hope to take anything out of this game.

Sekondi: Sekondi Hasaacas v Medeama SC (Postponed)

The game between Sekondi Hasaacas and Medeama Sporting Club has been postponed as a result of the latter’s involvement in the CAF Confederation Cup competition. The two-times MAT FA Cup champions are away in Sudan to play local side Al Shendi on Sunday in a first leg encounter.

GPL Match-Day Seven Preview - Seven Games

Brazil Want New Coach For Olympic Games

The situation of Dunga as coach of the Brazilian national team is very uncomfortable.

Behind the scenes of the CBF, the criticism of Dunga’s work grew after the latest results of the national team.

According to the information from Globo Esporte, leaders with influence in decision making are already discussing the need to reduce the powers of both Dunga as well as team coordinator Gilmar Rinaldi.

Dunga was supposed to be in charge of the side competing in the Olympic Games this August, but an idea that gains strength now is to appoint a new coach for the tournament in Rio de Janeiro.

For the leaders, Dunga can lead the side during the Copa América Centenário in June, but wants a new name to take charge for the Olympics.

It’s important to remember that the Olympic Gold medal is the only title missing from Brazil’s trophy cabinet, and is considered much more important than the competition in United States.

The interim coach would be an outsider, and not Rogério Micale, who led the U23 side in recent matches. Brazil drew with Paraguay on Tuesday for the World Cup qualifiers, and currently sits 6th in the standings.

The new plans of CBF highlights their concern over Dunga and Gilmar, and the performances in the Copa América Centenário can decide the coach’s future with the national side.

Credit: Sambafoot

Brazil Want New Coach For Olympic Games

Karela FC Will Take The Games As They Come – Frimpong Manso

Coach Frimpong Manso is relishing steady progress for Karela FC in the MTN FA Cup competition after guiding them to the next round of the competition.

The second tier side beat fellow GN Bank Division One League campaigner’s Sporting Mirren 1-0 at Anyinase on Friday to advance to the Round of 32.

Coach Manso said after the game that he is pleased with the performance of his charges and believed that with the right approach, they will reach far in this year’s competition.

“This was a difficult game for us despite our home advantage,” he said, adding that with Mirren playing at the same level as them, it made it even more complicated.

The former Ghana international defender is hopeful that they could go far in this year’s competition and should not be taken for granted on any day.

“We look to give opportunities to fringe players to get some game time in competitions of this nature, but, that should not be countered as a weakness on our part as we mean to do well,” he stressed.

They will hope for a good draw in the next round of the competition as they look to win their first silverware in Ghanaian football.

Karela FC Will Take The Games As They Come – Frimpong Manso

Ghana to participate in 2016 Africa Taekwondo Olympic qualifiers

Four Ghanaian athlete left the shores of Ghana to participate in the upcoming final round of the 2016 Africa Taekwondo Olympic Qualifier, scheduled for February 6-7th, in Morocco.

The athletes include David Adjetey (80kg) and Danielle Pelham (57kg) who will join the team from their base in the United States of America (USA) and Eunice Adedapo (49kg)  and Terrence Asare (58kg) as the local components of the team.

The athletes expressed delight about their departure to Morocco after initial setbacks with air tickets to participate in the competition.

In an interview with SportsCrusader.com, Charles Amofa  – Secretary-General of the Ghana Taekwondo Federation (GTF) said”it has being a difficult task getting air ticket for the athlete to travel to Morocco but am very happy they have finally left”.

Ghana to participate in 2016 Africa Taekwondo Olympic qualifiers

Ghana to be rewarded with medal four months after All Africa Games

Ghana’s medal haul at last year’s All Africa Games is likely to increase by three medals after the Nigeria’s female lifter Elizabeth Onuah tested positive for banned substances.

The Weightlifting Federation of Africa (WFA) is currently waiting for a directive from the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to effect the necessary changes on the medal table.

Elizabeth won gold in the 53kg category of scratch, Clean and Jerk (C/J) and total.

Ghana’s Ruth Baffoe is likely to receive three bronze medals if the issue is rectified by the IWF.

Ghana to be rewarded with medal four months after All Africa Games