Ghana Premier League Live Update: Hearts of Oak vs Ashgold

Follow Sportscrusader.com live text commentary on the Ghana premier league game between league leader’s, Hearts of Oak and defending champions Obuasi Ashantigold SC.

Ghana Premier League Live Update: Hearts of Oak vs Ashgold

Top Spot for Now is Meaningless - Hearts Coach

Sergio Traguil, head coach of Hearts of Oak, has mentioned he’s not getting carried away with the club’s top spot after match week 18.

Hearts leap-frogged Kotoko and Wa All Stars to the summit of the most competitive Ghana Premier League season after recording a 1-0 away win over Hasaacas.

But Sergio, to who this win is his first after three games in charge, told the media during his post-match presser, that their [Hearts] position now doesn’t matter, but that, the end justifies the means.

“I don’t come along with assertion that we’re in first place and that’s all that matters, No! We are still focused on working hard to achieve our objective [win the league].

“The first doesn’t do anything to me as a coach or give me more confidence because I always have confidence in my ability and the team as well and I reiterate I’m not too confident of cocky we’re in first place,” he added.

Hearts will meet Chelsea in the mid-week encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium as the Phobians aim to place a firm grip on the top spot.

Top Spot for Now is Meaningless - Hearts Coach

GPL Preview: Liberty Target League Double Over Hearts

Hearts of Oak will be seek to avenge a defeat later today when they play as guest to Liberty Professionals in the GPL at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Liberty Professionals dominated the entirety of the first round fixture with midfield wizkid, Latif Blessing, being a thorn in the flesh of the Phobia defence as they took all three points, courtesy a slim 1-0 win.

 

The Dansoman-based side have moved home grounds from the Carl Reindorf Park to Accra Sports Stadium particularly for this game with no information coming from their management as regards the rationale behind the venue change but Sportscrusader.com’s source reveals it is aimed at realising significant financial gains – as they hope Hearts fans will troop-in in their numbers to see their side try to avenge their previous defeat.

Liberty’s last league game ended in an away loss to Cape Coast giants, Ebusua Dwarfs, last Sunday in match week 16 and will hope to revive a promising season by completing a hopeful double over their regional rivals.

 

Recently recruited players, Derrick Appiah and the returning Kennedy Ashia, could make the match day squad and hope for a league debut against the second placed team on the log.

Hearts started life after former coach, Kenichi Yatsuashi on a high note, with a hard-fought 1-0 home win in match week 16 against league debutants, Dreams FC.

Newly appointed caretaker coach, Sergio Daniel Traguil, is expected to manage the team from the technical area this time around after securing his work permit certificate.

GPL Preview: Liberty Target League Double Over Hearts

GPL MATCH PREVIEW: Wa All Stars Host WAFA SC

Free scoring Wa All Stars host Sogakope based WAFA SC at the Wa Park on Wednesday May 18, 2016 after their ruthless performance in the FA Cup.

 

The home side fine tuned their preparation for the arrival of the Academy Boys with a landslide 6-0 thumping of Brong Ahafo based Mighty Royals in the last 16 stages of the domestic league cup.

The wounded host atoned for their Techiman woes with scary display of attacking football in the FA cup and will be gunning for similar fame when John Killa and his gallant warriors take to the pitch. A brace from Maxwell Baako and a thunderous dead ball from Ismail Ganiu highlighted the return to form of the host after a run of 3 defeats in the last 4 fixtures.

 

A goal each from Yakubu Wadud and Stephen Nyarko decided the corresponding fixture last season in a 2-0 win for Wa All Stars on match day 16 but current form of the host could proved deadly for WAFA SC. Enos Adepa and his high flying Saudi pilgrims remains the only side yet to concede a goal at home in the opening 11 rounds of league matches and the return of their star custodian Richard Ofori just compounded the task ahead for the poor travelers.

 

Inspired by the twin brothers of Gideon Mensah and Gideon Wajah, the Academy boys surged out of the blocks at the start of the campaign but has since slowed down with one win in the last six matches.

The return to form of Samuel Tetteh, Charles Boateng and Martin Antwi could however change the trend at the Wa Park after the 90 minutes regulation time. Wa All Stars are without the crocked midfielder Wahidu Mumuni for the midweek clash but the return of Ismail Ganiu, Emmanuel Ocran, Richard Ofori and Richard Arthur promised hell for the killer instincts harbored by John Killa at the Wa Park.

 

With a possible return to the summit of the log, midfielder Emmanuel Ocran, is leaving no stone unturned ahead of the WAFA clash. “We have to put the FA Cup win aside and switch our attention to the league match. There are different environments altogether and must be approached as such.

WAFA SC with all due respect is far ahead of Mighty Royals and we cannot assume we will have another field day when they take to the pitch. We must raise the hunger that saw us score 4 goals in 45 minutes if we are to beat WAFA on Wednesday”, Emmanuel Ocran revealed.

 

Wa All Stars have conceded just 2 goals in the last 14 home matches including 13 cleans and six in a row now.

GPL MATCH PREVIEW: Wa All Stars Host WAFA SC

Avram Grant Got To Be Tolerant - De-Graft Johnson

Former Sekondi Hasacaas coach, Joseph De-Graft Johnson has called on Ghana Black Stars coach, Avram Grant to learn how to be tolerant with criticisms from Ghanaians.

Grant who has had stints with English Premier League sides, Chelsea and Portsmouth has found life in managing Ghana a tough task to handle as he continually battles the Ghanaian media who have criticized his tactics and team selections.

Mozambique held the Black Stars to a goalless drawn game at the Estadio do Zimpeto in an African Cup of nations qualifier for Gabon 2017 and this got the media question why Ghana will fail to do the double over the minnows and this got the Israeli furious and he used the ‘bulls**t’ word to refer to the media and Ghanaians as a whole.

Johnson who knows how vocal and passionate football fans can be has offered advise to the ex-Chelsea boss saying, “Ghanaians are not talking too much, they can talk as much as they like in this democratic world and this is the beauty of the ‘beautiful game – football’.

Ghanaians should be allowed to share their opinion and that comes along with the package of a national team head coach.”

“You (as a coach) must be able to absorb a lot of varied opinions as a coach as long as it is not derogatory but in the end your opinion (performance on the team) matters,” he added.

Avram Grant Got To Be Tolerant - De-Graft Johnson

Video: Watch Agyemang Badu"s Interview Ghana"s 3-1 Win

iIisGhana Black Stars midfielder and stand-in captain, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu was presented along with coach Avram Grant at the post match interview after Ghana defeated the OS Mambas of Mozambique by 3-goals to one.

Badu who was a second half substitute admitted the scoreline was a bit deceptive considering how well their opponents played.

See the full details here on Sportscrusader.com

https://youtu.be/DLux56pai_Q

Video: Watch Agyemang Badu"s Interview Ghana"s 3-1 Win

Hearts And Kotoko Have No Dignity Left - Abbey Poobee

Tough-talking and controversial football administrator, Jonathan Abbey Pobee has said the two biggest clubs in Ghana, Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak have both lost their dignity as they have become pet-toys for the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

He said both clubs have become irrelevant and are rather seeking the interest of the GFA instead of the welfare of Ghana Premier League clubs.

Many have called for the two oldest clubs to boycott the league, if not threaten its commencement, after the FA failed to secure sponsorship for the league.

The Ghana premier league has been battling sponsorship issues and the 2015/16 season started without headline sponsor, First Capital Plus Bank now Capital Bank due to the latter’s

request of suspending the deal for restructuring reasons.

Pobee, an administrative member of the Aspire football academy, Ghana in an interview with Sportscrusader.com admitted that he blames both Hearts and Kotoko for the woes of the ‘smaller’ clubs who cry for financial assistance from the GFA to help soften their burden.

He said, “Hearts and Kotoko as I always say have sold their dignity. Why should Wa All Stars (Kwesi Nyantakyi) and Liberty Professionals (George Afriyie) manage Ghana football and not executives of both clubs rather.”

Hearts And Kotoko Have No Dignity Left - Abbey Poobee

Video: Ghana Premier League Preview

 

The 2015/16 Ghana premier league enters match week 5 this weekend.

 

Kumasi Asante Kotoko will kick off proceedings when they host Hasaacas on Friday as they continue the search for a first league win.

Hearts will look to continue fine start to the season but Inter Allies has cautioned the Phobians the good run will end at the Tema Astro turf stadium.

Sportscrusader.com previews the matches in week 5. Click and enjoy

 

https://youtu.be/yXx2VvTKGNs

Video: Ghana Premier League Preview

Stop Crying Over Sponsorless League, Premier Clubs Told

Hard-talking football administrator, Abbey Pobee has asked Ghana Premier League clubs to cease crying over participation in the sponsorless league.

 

Premier league clubs have been crying over financial inadequacy due to the absence of sponsors and as such no money to cushion their preparation and involvement in the league.

New Edubiase has been the loudest of the 16-premier league clubs to ask for financial assistance from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) else will boycott the league.

But Pobee in an interview with sportscrusader.com mentioned that clubs only have themselves to blame for the difficulties they find themselves in now.

 

He said, “the clubs will have to take a portion of the blame as they continually side with the ‘football people’ in decision matters.”

“If the clubs were focused they should have been able to secure sponsorships for themselves and not rely on the GFA. He asked the directors and chairmen of the various clubs if they have seen the contract between the FA and then headline sponsor, First Capital Plus Bank now Capital Bank.”

 

“The clubs are cowards and toothless and that’s why they are shown no respect from the association they are suppose to be in control of,” he added.

Stop Crying Over Sponsorless League, Premier Clubs Told

Kenichi Has Shamed Doubters - Opare Addo

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Accra Hearts of Oak, Kwame Opare Addo has mentioned that critics and doubters of coach Kenichi Yatshuashi have been put to shame.

The Japanese-American came under immediate scrutiny when skeptics and critics alike questioned his appointment in relation to him being a novice taking into consideration his curriculum vitae (CV), that got him the mandate to coach one of Ghana’s biggest clubs.

Kenichi started his reign poorly with a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of fellow premier league club, WAFA and a 5-0 aggregate defeat to Al-Ahli Tripoli all in friendly matches but the meteorite start the Phobians have had since the commencement of the league has brandished all the talks of his dismissal needless now.

 

Hearts have gained 10-points from a plausible 12 in 4-matches and the ‘sushi’ style of football the team plays according to Opare has silenced those critics who judged the book the cover.

 

He said, “Kenichi is the perfect man for the Hearts of Oak job for now. Right from his appointment when people questioned us we knew what we were doing in terms of the coach we were getting on board. Our critics did not trust him and his performance has manifested in the believe we had in him and not what the critics wished.”

 

Hearts travel to face Inter Allies in match week 5 of the 2015/16 Ghana premier league season

Kenichi Has Shamed Doubters - Opare Addo

We Knew We"ll Concede A Goal - Hearts

Accra Hearts of Oak coach, Kenichi Yatshusashi has admitted he knew it was a a matter of time before his side conceded a goal in their game against Bechem United.

Hearts until match week 4 were one of the two sides, yet to concede a goal but that record was broken by Bechem United’s John Nyamekye in the dying embers of the match after he shot through the open arms of goal keeper, Soulama Abdulai.

At his post match presser Kenichi admitted he knew his side will not go through the whole season without conceding a goal.

He said, “I am not surprised with the team conceding a goal, as I knew we were not going to keep a clean sheet throughout the season”.

“I knew a time will come when a goal will be scored against us but we will work on keeping clean sheets in games.” He added.

We Knew We"ll Concede A Goal - Hearts

Match Report: Dreams FC 1 WA All Stars 1

Dreams FC failed to grab home advantage as they were held one all, by Wa All Stars at the Dawu Park on Saturday in Match Day Four of the Ghana Premier League (GPL).

The meeting between the two was billed as a top of the table clash and an opportunity for either side, to stay top of the table going into the game on 7-points apiece.

In the 38-minute, Dreams FC broke the virginity of the game with a thunderbolt of a shot from Emmanuel Lomotey who found the roof of the net, after a good defending from All stars.

The lead temporarily meant Dreams will go top of the league log, but against the run of play Wa All Stars equalised from a Wahidu Mumuni perfectly  taken 18-yards free kick that hit the far net of keeper, Mozart Adjetey’s goal post.

Lomotey was a handful for the Wa All Stars defenders to handle after scoring the first goal of the match, but the young forward failed to find the back of the net after a beautifully laid pass from Bekoe inside the six yard box.

Dreams FC supporters were tried to intimidate Wa All Stars  with their drumming, singing and dancing at high pitch but the All Stars never fell for this.

Wa All Stars after the equaliser were finally awake creating series of goal scoring chances but a combination of good defending and impotency upfront meant spoils will be shared and confirm why neither side has lost a game with four matches played in the 2015/16 season.

Match Report: Dreams FC 1 WA All Stars 1

Dreams FC Release Rates for Match Against All Stars

The Management of Dreams FC has released the rates for the club’s home game against league leaders Wa All Stars.

The match which is a make or break for the league debutants will be played on Saturday at the Dawu Park.

The two teams are unbeaten in three games with Wa All Stars leading the league table on 7 points, same as Dreams FC but with goal difference.

The popular stand will attract a fee of 3 Cedis while the VIP wing goes for 5 Cedis.

The presidential wing and the VVIP tickets are selling for 7.00 and 10 Ghana Cedis respectively.

Below is the cost of tickets at a glance:

VVIP – Ghc10.00

VIP – Ghc5.00

PRESIDENTIAL WING – Ghc7.00

POPULAR STAND – Ghc3.00

Limited Presidential seats with match day hospitality service at Ghc20.00

Dreams FC Release Rates for Match Against All Stars

Abukari Damba Cautions Samudeen Ibrahim

Former Accra Hearts Goalkeepers trainer, Abukari Damba has offered free advice to exciting young midfielder, Samudeen Ibrahim, following his high-flying start to life as a premier league footballer.

The former Kings Solomon FC player has embraced life easily into the top-flight of the Ghanaian game to the astonishment of many that did believed his talent but did not see the bright side of things to happen so immediately.

Ibrahim,  put in a man-of-the-match performance on his debut for the Phobians against New Edubiase United at the Accra Sports Stadium and the cheers from the Hearts of Oak faithfuls to every touch he made suggested the young lad had indeed arrived.

But the former Ghana international, (Damba), has cautioned him to keep his wings down whilst he enjoys the impressive start he has made to his Premier League career.

Speaking in an interview with sportscrusader.com during the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG) visit to the Ashaiman cluster of schools, Damba had a word of caution for Samudeen saying, “He is a very interesting player and within the Hearts of Oak set-up.

“Hearts of Oak boast of some very good players in the squad. The cheer and support for Samudeen is a confidence booster and that is exactly what a player needs, but he has got to understand what the fans say is not relevant but rather his performance on the field of play.” Damba said.

“Undoubtedly Samudeen is a fantastic and technically gifted player on the ball, but he should not get carried away, he must realise that these are early days yet and that he has work harder or else the same fans who hail him today will criticise him when he dips in form.” He added.

Ibrahim has returned from the injury that has kept him out of Hearts’ last two GPL games and his return has been received as a major boost in camp after their goalless draw game with Ebusua Dwarfs in their last game last Sunday.

Abukari Damba Cautions Samudeen Ibrahim

Hearts Good League Start Is Down To ...

Accra Hearts of Oak deputy captain, Owusu Bempah has revealed the club’s explosive start to the 2015/16 Ghana premier league season is down to hard work and the technical capabilities available this season in contrast to the 2014/15 league season.

 

The 20-times Ghana premier league champions are yet to concede a goal and record a defeat in the three matches played so far. With two consecutive wins and a draw this early in the season has seen the Phobians luck change from outside choice to been named as favourite to win the trophy that has eluded the Rainbow club since 2008.

Bempah who has played all the three games and has looked positive this season admitted after the goalless draw against Dwarfs the impressive start to the season is not surprising to the team as it is to many because what goes on during training and in the off-season is manifesting now.

 

He said, “at training every player gives his all and the technical team have got grips on what they instruct us to do in comparison to last season where we had challenges with our fitness. This season our performance even in second half games testifies to how fit and sharp we are during matches.”

 

“The only secret to this explosive start to the season is hard work and God’s grace as well,” he added.

Hearts Good League Start Is Down To ...

Medeama Match Is A "Must-Win Game" - Opoku Nti

General manager of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Samuel Opoku Nti has described his side’s next league match against SC Medeama as a ‘must-win’ encounter.

The league favourites, Kotoko lost its first league match of the 2015/16 Ghana Premier League when they played as guests to WAFA at the Sogakope park, an action that has put a little pressure on both the playing and the technical team, looking at the brilliant preseason they had.

 

Kotoko will play their second game in the league on Sunday against Medeama and have an outstanding game against Ashantigold on Wednesday, but this according to Opoku Nti should not be toyed with as the supporters will not forgive them.

 

“The Medeama match is going to very tough, I know. But we have to win it at all costs because we can’t afford a second straight defeat and not in front of our teeming fans”.

 

“I consider the Medeama match a do or die affair because the players know what is at stake as anything apart from total victory will not be good for the team”, Opoku Nti added.

Medeama Match Is A "Must-Win Game" - Opoku Nti

Samudeen Is Only Warming Up - Dong Bortey

Accra Hearts of Oak legend Bernard ‘Dong’ Bortey has revealed young midfielder, Samudeen Ibrahim’s explosive start to life in the Ghana Premier League (GPL), is just a glimpse of better things to come and not the finished product yet. 

 

The former division one player of King Solomon, has been the talk this early in the 2015/16 GPL season after his man-of-the-match performance against New Edubiase in Hearts first game of the season.

Hearts of Oak midfielder, Samudeen Ibrahim in action for Hearts against New Edubiase

Nicknamed ‘El Hadji Diouf’ after the ex-Senegalese international for similarity to style of play, Bortey has revealed he is not surprised with the start Samudeen has shown in the league after knowing him personally as a ‘son’ and as a talented footballer.

 

“What the fans are witnessing now is just a tip of the iceberg. The Ibrahim as I know him personally has a lot in stock to deliver to football fans and his club as a whole. He is still young and will only get better over time.” He told Kumasi based radio, Boss FM.

Samudeen Is Only Warming Up - Dong Bortey

We"re Not Afraid Of Any Club - Kotoko

Kumasi Asante Kotoko potent forward, Dauda Mohammed has cautioned the remaining 15-clubs the Porcupine warriors respect all but fear none as the quest to reclaim the trophy begins this Sunday after losing the first game.

 

Kotoko began the season on the wrong foot recording a 2-0 defeat away to nemesis, West Africa Football Academy (WAFA) at Sogakope after starting the season as league favourites after an almost flawless pre-season preparation.

 

But the Reds have promised their fans of a strong revival starting with the game against Medeama on Sunday and the returnee from injury, Dauda has warned the remaining teams to expect nothing short of an improved performance and assured victory.

 

“Ashgold are out of Africa and are turning all attention on the league. But we are not scared of them. Nobody is beyond our capability,” he told the club’s website.

 

“We lost our first game and we have no excuse than to grab the six points (against Ashgold later in mid-week and Medeama on Sunday) at stake. Anything less than victory can be disastrous because some of the teams have already taken the lead,” he added.

We"re Not Afraid Of Any Club - Kotoko

I Hope Hearts Win The League - Appiah

Former Ghana Black stars captain, Stephen Appiah has revealed his heart will be filled with joyous celebrations should Accra Hearts of Oak win the 2015/16 Ghana premier league season.

 

Hearts began life under new head coach, Kenichi Yatshuashi in the premier league with a home one nil victory over New Edubiase, a side that has defeated the Phobians in their last two Ghana premier league meetings at the Accra sports stadium.

 

Nicknamed, ‘Tornado’, Appiah wished all the 16-participating clubs success for the premier league season but the special message was reserved for his former club, Accra Hearts of Oak when he was in the company of professional footballers association of

 

He said, “I wish all the 16-premier league teams success for the 2015/16 season but I hope come the end of the season Hearts win the Ghana premier league trophy.”

 

Appiah, who was recently unveiled as the Unity ambassador for election 2016 at the launch of the unity match at the Banquet hall of the state house during an event organised by Primeval media Ghana, played for the Rainbow club before successful stints across Europe.

I Hope Hearts Win The League - Appiah

If God Permits I Might Be GFA Prez But ... - Frank Nelson

Ghana Football Association (GFA) executive committee member, Frank Nelson Nwokolo has revealed his admiration to head the association in the near future should he be called upon and his believe in God agrees with the decision.

 

The GFA presidency seat has become an attractive brand since current head, Kwesi Nyantakyi was elected as president in 2005 after FIFA had issued an ultimatum to Ghana to fix her football challenges.

 

Frank Nelson who doubles as a board member of premier league club, Accra Heart of Oak admitted his rise to the top of Ghana football has been a smooth one but will still take it a step at a time as he is not overly zealous to contest for the presidency.

 

In an interview with sportscrusader.com, Mr. Nelson said, “I am not too ambitious in terms of getting to the top as I like things to go on smoothly and naturally but it is God who makes a king. Today I am the chairman of the national U-20 management committee, a member of the exco and chairman of the marketing and event committee of the GFA.”

 

He added, “I didn’t force my way up there but if tomorrow the mantra falls on me to head the association and it aligns with the will of God then I don’t think I will be able to turn down God’s offer.

If God Permits I Might Be GFA Prez But ... - Frank Nelson