Commentary: Stage Set For A Perfect Second Round Of The GPL

The second round of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) begins this weekend with matches at all league centers on Sunday.

The first round of the competition ended with a All Stars leading the standing with 28 points, to better than a quartet of clubs-Aduana Stars, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Accra Hearts of Oak and Medeama SC.

Liberty Professionals, Dreams FC, WAFA and Berekum Chelsea have 24, 23, 20 and 20 points respectively and they follow in that order on the table heading into the start of the second round.

They are followed by Techiman City, 19 points, Sekondi Hasaacas, 18, AshantiGold SC, 16 and Inter Allies with 15 points.

The bottom three clubs are Bechem United with 15 points, Ebusua Dwarfs, 14 and New Edubiase United with 12 from the 15 games played.

It will be interesting to see how the teams cancel each other out in the second round of the competition which will also determine which team wins the title and the three sides that will be relegated at the end of the campaign.

Will Wa All Stars be able to hold on to their lead until the end of the competition or will they fall along the line and allow the chasing pack to overtake them?

These are questions that will be answered as the season progresses, and, the likes of Aduana Stars, Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak and Medeama SC will all be out to stake a claim to the title.

Debutants, Dreams FC and Techiman City looked impressive in the first round, and, most observers will look to see whether they can maintain their standard and stay in the league at the end of the season.

How teams maximize points at home will go a long way in determining the outcome at the end of the campaign, especially those hoping to beat the drop.

With the second round of the competition starting on Sunday, we look forward to seeing some cagey and fiercely contested encounters at our various Sports Stadiums and Parks nationwide.

 

Commentary: Stage Set For A Perfect Second Round Of The GPL

Wa All Stars Player Targets National Call Up

Wa All Stars influential captain and stalwart defender, Hafiz Adams has revealed to Sportscrusader.com he has set his sight on a national team call up.

The young centre back has been a rock at the back for the side was it isn’t surprising All Stars boast of the best defense in the 2015/16 Ghana premier league season conceding just two goals in the doc games played thus far.

Hafiz who was crowned Man-of-the-match in their 3-1 away thrashing of Accra Hearts mentioned he dreams of a national team call up in the not too distant future.

Wa All Stars stalwart defender, Hafiz Adams targets a national team call up

He said, “like every player I also dream of representing my country (herein Ghana) and will honour a national team call either with the senior Black Stars or the local Black Stars call up.”

“it is my target and will be excited with a call for a national team duties,” he added.

All Stars host Mysterious Ebusua Dwarfs at the Wa Park in must win game after the impressive win over Hearts.

Wa All Stars Player Targets National Call Up

We"ll Capitalise On WAFA Poor Away Form

Dreams FC head coach, Charles Kwabena Akunnor has mentioned that his side will take full advantage of WAFA’s poor away form.

The newly promoted Ghana premier league side suffered first defeat of the season when they lost to fellow debutants, Techiman City In match week 5.

Akunnor in an interview with sportscrusader.com admitted they can’t afford a drop anymore points and as such are ready to capitalise on WAFA’s no win away from home in three away games this season.

He said, “WAFA is a well organised and trained team and we won’t underestimate them as they enjoy playing on a very good pitch and our home pitch is one so they will.”

“If away matches is their weaknesses then we will capitalise on it and punish them, he added.

We"ll Capitalise On WAFA Poor Away Form

Cudjoe Fianoo Confident Ashgold Will Bounce Soon

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ashgold SC, Cudjoe Fianoo is confident his side will put aside their slow start to the season and bounce back very soon.

The experienced football administrator blamed the reigning GPL Champions slow start on the abortive CAF Champions League campaign.

The former FA Executive committee member, fired a verbal warning to their local rivals to be wary of a new Ashgold in the following weeks, as they have intensified the defence of their hard earned crown.

The Miner’s Chief revealed that, the hunger that ushered them throughout last season is back in camp, after a run of four consecutive draw games on the domestic scene.

The confident speaking ace administrator admitted to the slow start, but noted that, they are still unbeaten in the season and will ride on that to defend their title.

“It’s been a slow start unlike last season when we took off the block with the trophy in sight after close to 2 decades without silverware.

“This season, we started with a divided attention. We had our focus on the CAF Champions League and the Premiership and it took a toll on us.

“Now that we are out of the CAF Champions League, we redirecting our focus on the Premiership and despite the seemingly slow start, we have the materials to bounce back in style.

“We started slowly but we are one of the three teams to scale Week-5 without a defeat,” Cudjoe Fianoo told sports crusader.

Ashgold stormed the 2014/15 FCPPL in a sizzling manner to end an almost 20-year old wait for domestic silverware but has since won one of its opening five league matches played in the current campaign.

The miners failed to skip past the first hurdle in the CAF Champions league qualifications at the hands of Algerian side OM Bejaia.

Cudjoe Fianoo Confident Ashgold Will Bounce Soon

PfAG Visits Hearts Players

The Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PfaG) paid a visit to the players and technical team of Accra Hearts of Oak, at their training on Tuesday at the Legon Ajax Park.

The body  which represents players in Ghana is launching its “Life after Football fund” and insurance scheme on Monday in Accra and as part of the campaign intends visiting all the 16 Ghana Premier League clubs and advising them on the player welfare.

pfaG visit to the Legon Ajax park training grounds of Ghana premier league leaders, Accra Hearts of Oak

The pfaG delegation included former player and national captain, Stephen Appiah and General Secretary of the Association Tony Baffoe, educated the players on the plans and insurance schemes available to them.

 

Hearts visit is the third club visited after previous visits to Sekondi Hasaacas and Liberty Professionals.

PfAG Visits Hearts Players

Press Release: Kotoko Must Sit Up!

Kumasi Asante Kotoko supporters wing, Musical Group of Kotoko (Circle 300 Nima) has released a press statement on the club’s poor run to the commencement of the 2015/16 Ghana premier league season.

The 24-times Ghana premier league champions are yet to record a win in the league and after yesterdays 2-0 defeat to Berekum Chelsea at the Berekum Golden City park in match week 4, the fans have called on the hierarchy of the club to sit up and find a solution to the great club’s free fall from grace.

 

The Kotoko management is reported to have scheduled an emergency meeting later this week to discuss the dwindling fortune of the club this season.

Press Release: Kotoko Must Sit Up!

Duncan"s Future At Kotoko "Safe"

The outcome of Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s  Ghana Premier League (GPL), match week four fixture against Berekum Chelsea won’t define the future of coach David Duncan.

The Porcupine Warriors are yet to record a win after three matches — losing one (away) and drawing two at (home).

Irate fans of the record premier league champions wants the former Great Olympics coach sacked, but management won’t succumb to the pressure the supporters.

The Board and Management share the frustration of the supporters, but they are optimistic Duncan is the right man to lead the club on the pitch.

Kotoko has not ‘even’ considered approaching Medeama SC  boss Tom Strand as a potential replacement should Duncan continue to under-perform, but it could be possible should they lose confidence in his services.

The board of the club are at peace to work. No questions from above why the poor start to their title charge despite impressive performances and results during pre-season.

Asante Kotoko are ready for any result from the Golden City Park, but they accept a defeat will only mount pressure on not only the coach, but management too.

Duncan"s Future At Kotoko "Safe"

Hearts Might Not Win The League - Kenichi

Kenichi Yatshuashi, head coach of Accra Hearts of Oak has ruled his side out of winning the league title this season after their impressive start to the 2015/16 Ghana premier league season.

 

The 20-times Ghana premier league champions started the season with an outside chance to win the crown that has eluded the Phobians since 2008 and after back-to-back wins against New Edubiase and Medeama in their opening games and has seen their luck change and now being made favourite by the bookmakers this early on in the season.

 

In an interview with sportscrusader.com, the Japanese-American tactician, Keni played down talks of his side being favourites to annex the trophy as it is too early with only two games played into the season because it is going to be a long run as teams will  begin to find their rhythm.

 

“the fans want us to win the league and the FA cup but we will do our best to win both trophies though I am not sure if it might be this season or next season.

 

Kenichi will lead his charges as they travel to Cape Coast to face Mysterious Ebusua Dwarfs in match week 3 of the 2015/16  Ghana premier league season.

Hearts Might Not Win The League - Kenichi

Kotoko Can Learn From TP Mazembe - Nii Adjei

Former Kumasi Asante Kotoko combative midfielder, Daniel Adjei has revealed the success chalked by his current club, TP Mazembe can be a blue print for his old side as they crave to reclaim their last continental glory. 

 

Kotoko has won the champions league three times but wince the last trophy in 80s, the Porcupine Warriors have failed to qualified to the final stage of the CAF competition and has seen Ghana’s most successful club lose its fear factor.

Flash back: Daniel Nii Adjei during his playing days with Kotoko

Nii Adjei who won domestic glory with the Reds of Ghana has seen much success in both domestic and continental games with the DR Congo based club and has called on his former employees to pick a cue from his current side.

 

“TP Mazembe is well organised than Kotoko’s and if Kotoko’s can learn from it they can be successful,” he told Boss Fm.

 

“Winning bonuses are attractive and much higher than what Ghanaian Club’s pay players and this turns to motivate us as players who play for TP  Mazembe,” he added.

Kotoko Can Learn From TP Mazembe - Nii Adjei

League Debut Excites "Dormaa Polo"

Aduana Stars youngster, Sampson Boampong Wireko, nicknamed,  ‘Dormaa Polo couldn’t hide his happiness to have featured in the Ghana Premier League for the first time.

 

The nimble-footed midfielder signed for the 2010 Ghana premier league champions, Aduana Stars in the first transfer window and his wonderful preseason performances has seen many football fans predicting a very good 2015/16 football season.

Dormaa Polo’s Facebook status revealing his excitement at league debut

The young midfielder fulfilled his wish of playing in the Ghana Premier League on Sunday when his team played against Inter Allies at the Tema stadium in the match week 1 fixture of the Ghana Premier League, coming off the bench in the second half.

 

“I am very happy to make my debut in the Ghana Premier League, and its a dream come true. I know things didn’t go well as expected for the team but all is not lost, we will surely bounce back”, the Dormaa Polo wrote on his Facebook wall.

 

Aduana lost the game 2-0, but the mere fact that he has finally played in the Ghana Premier League excites Boampong Wireko.

League Debut Excites "Dormaa Polo"

Preview Ghana Premier: Hearts Of Oak vs New Edubiase

Accra Hearts of Oak begin competitive life under new head coach, Japanese-American, Kenichi Yatsuhashi on Sunday when the Phobians host New Edubiase United in the 2015/16 Ghana premier league (GPL).

 

The 20-times premier league champions will look to get off to a winning start and make a statement of intent and if the performance against newly promoted side, Dreams FC in a club friendly at Dawu is anything to go-bye then the

remaining 15-teams can expert fire works from the new Hearts.

 

New acquisitions Samuel Yeboah, Kennedy Appiah, Richard Akrofi, Samudeen Ibrahim, goalkeeper Samuel Akurugu and Gbeti Evans Silvanus have seen Hearts of Oak gone four matches without defeat.

Hearts has promised fans of the ‘rainbow club’ and football loving fans of beautiful, possessive and purposeful football brand named, ‘Sushi football’ this season and that will be the trump card to reclaim the lost glory

that has eluded them since the 2008/09 season.

 

New Edubiase United did the double over the Phobians last season and hope to repeat it this term despite losing players like the Nuhu brothers Alhassan and Fuseini, Emmanuel Nti Mensah, Bernard Ofori and Abdul Latif Anabila.

 

But youngster Godfred Asiamah has returned from a trial session with Swedish side AIK Stockholm to boost his side.

The games will be opened for free to children under 16 years.

 

MATCH FACTS

Head to Head

Total matches played = 12

Hearts of Oak wins = 6

Drawn games = 2

New Edubiase United wins = 4

 

• Hearts of Oak have won only one of their last four meetings against New Edubiase United – (W1 D2 L2)

 

• New Edubiase United are unbeaten in their last two trips to Accra Hearts of Oak – won one and drawn one.

 

• Hearts of Oak lost three home games in the premier league last season – (W8 D4 L3)

 

• New Edubiase United FC managed only two away wins at in the 2014/15 premier league season and were all against Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak.

 

• Hearts of Oak are win-less in four league attempts against Adansi clubs – (D2 L2).

Preview Ghana Premier: Hearts Of Oak vs New Edubiase

Kotoko & Hearts Should Be "Afraid" Of Hassacas - Yusif Basigi

Head coach of Sekondi Hassaca, Yusif Basigi has cautioned the remaining 15-teams in the Ghana premier league to be weary when they face his team as he’s spoilt for choice with the number of quality available for selection when the league commences on February 20.

 

 

Basigi who heads the female national team (Black Queens) believes the players signed during the recently shut window will afford the team place a reputable position than it did in the 2014/15 season.

Hassacas signed former Kumasi Asante Kotoko goal-poacher, Eric Bekoe in addition to an already exiting attacking threat and it is this that has made the soft-speaking coach much vocal in the off-season.

 

Yusif Basigi couldn’t hide his joy and enthusiasm going into the new season with the quality of players at his disposal.

“I am glad with the options available in attack with Eric Bekoe, Papa Ackon, Fatau Muhammed, Okocha, Kojo Poku and Joy and this will give any defense in the league headache to handle such a formidable attack,” he told sportscrusader.com.

 

“I can vary the formation (either a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3) at anytime and that means teams can’t predict which formation I will implore in the game. I can play both formations based on the defense options available to the opposing team and still the aim will remain the same – win in the end,” he added.

 

Hasaacas travel to Wa All Stars to begin the 2015/16 GPL season.

Kotoko & Hearts Should Be "Afraid" Of Hassacas - Yusif Basigi