GPL Midweek Thrills: Leaders Faces Stern Test At Sogakope

Action in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) continues with midweek thrills as the competition enters Match-Day 19 at all league centers on Wednesday.

Wa All Stars lead the standing with 32 points and, they will be on the road on Wednesday as they trek to Sogakope to face the might of the West Africa Football Academy (WAFA).

They drew 1-1 in the first round at Wa, and eighth placed WAFA will fancy their chances on home soil at the Red Bull Arena.

Second placed Kumasi Asante Kotoko will return to the Baba Yara Stadium to welcome Bechem United. The Porcupines won the first round tie 1-0 and, will be odds on favourites to collect the three points.

Hearts of Oak, who are third on the log, will look to preserve their unbeaten away record when they visit the Essipong Stadium at Sekondi to play Hasaacas. Hearts won 1-0 in Accra in the first round.

Fourth placed Aduana Stars will be sure candidates to collect the points at stake when they host bottom club New Edubiase United at the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park.

Techiman City, who are 10^th on the ladder, will host fifth placed Medeama SC at the Ohene Ameyaw Park, Techiman, and, will be determined to keep their unbeaten home record against the MTN FA Cup holders.

Liberty Professionals, who are sixth, will host seventh placed Dreams FC at the Dansoman Park. The two sides drew 2-2 in the first round tie and another closely fought encounter is anticipated.

Ninth placed Berekum Chelsea will welcome 14^th placed Ebusua Dwarfs to the Golden City Park, Berekum. They drew goalless in the first round encounter at the Robert Mensah Stadium in Cape Coast.

Defending champions, AshantiGold SC will host Inter Allies at the Len Clay Stadium at Obuasi as they look to improve on the current standing of 13^th on the log.

 

GPL Midweek Thrills: Leaders Faces Stern Test At Sogakope

GPL Match Report: Hearts Fail to Beat 10-man Liberty

Hearts of Oak failed to make their numerical advantage count as they were held by 10-man Liberty Professionals during their week 17 Ghana Premier League (GPL) fixture.

The Phobians playing as the away team at their favourite Accra Sports Stadium home ground started as the brightest of the two sides, creating a pocket of chances n consequently registering the first shot on target through the in-form Cosmos Dauda, who hit a powerful low shot that hit the top right corner of Stephen Kwaku’s goal after he was brilliantly put through by the entertaining attacking midfielder, Razak Patrick.

Liberty 1-1 Hearts

The Scientific soccer lads immediately responded but Hearts were saved by the cross bar after Sarfo Samuel headed a corner kick straight towards Ebo Mends who saw his goal-bound header bounce off the crossbar.

Liberty Professionals, from then, dominated the game as Hearts were forced to clear their lines with consistent pressure from George Lamptey’s boys.

Caretaker coach of Hearts, Sergio Traguil, who was managing his first official game since his appoitnment, was animated in his technical area throughout the game urging his men forward for the first goal of the game.

Liberty Professionals celebrate their equalizing goal

The instructions paid-off as the man of the moment, Cosmos ‘Neymar’ Dauda, from a counter-attack, was played through by Samudeen Ibrahim and with a sweet first touch, easily skipped past Anthony Nimo and shot with his left foot into the right corner of Stephen Kwaku’s goal to give the Phobians the lead in the 34th minute.

Dauda nearly got his second of the game after picking up a loose ball and just 13-yards from goal,blasted his effort wide off the target as Hearts took a one goal lead into half time.

Hearts fans applauded the team, after referee Awal Mohammed blew his whistle, in acknowledgement of Sergio Traguil’s promise of a Barcelona-esque style of play known as ‘tiki-taka’ on display.

Patrick Razak celebrates Cosmos Dauda’s opening goal

Liberty Professionals, with just five minutes into the second half, got the equaliser from a Latif Blessing assist; a sweet pass from him that found Bernard Arthur in the midst of two Hearts of Oak defenders, who gently tapped into the net to get the home side the equalising goal. The nimble-footed Blessing nearly made it two for Liberty after he skied a lovely cross from Richard Antwi with him unmarked from 12-yards to Samuel Akrugu’s goal.

From then, Liberty appeared to be the hungrier of the two, trying to get the second goal but huffed and puffed to no avail as they had to finish the final 20 minutes of the game with 10-men after Bernard Arthur was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Robin Gnagne.

 

Pic Credit: Senyuiedzorm A. Adadevoh

GPL Match Report: Hearts Fail to Beat 10-man Liberty

GPL MATCH-Day 16 Preview: Hearts v Dreams FC

TEAM NEWS:

Accra Hearts of Oak will welcome back Soulama Abdoulaye who has finished serving his three-game ban, Thomas Abbey, Richard Yamoah, Owusu Bempah, Samudeen Ibrahim, and Musah Inusah have been in training with the team having recovered from separate injuries and are also in contention for a start.

Razak Patrick and Kassenu Ghandi could make their debut for the Phobians having joined the club in the second transfer window as could Macou Badu who was promoted from the youth side.

Coach Charles Akunnor could give a debut to former Asante Kotoko defender Abeiku Ainooson who is on loan at the club, with goalkeeper Philemon McCarthy also in line to be picked after joining from WAFA.

Preview:

Accra Hearts of Oak will host Dreams FC at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday as the second round of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) commences this weekend.

In the first round tie played at the Dawu Park, the points were shared as they played out a 1-1 draw, and, both will be looking to get this round off to a good start with a win.

Dreams FC who are making their debut in the Ghanaian top-flight league, chalked some impressive away wins in the first round at Obuasi against both AshantiGold SC and New Edubiase United and at Cape Coast against Ebusua Dwarfs.

They will be confident of pulling a fast one over Hearts who lost three of their home games in the first round of the competition.

But the Phobians have vowed make full effect of their home games count this second round, and will be up for this one as they welcome their fans back to the Accra Sports Stadium after their two game home ban.

It should be a good game to savour for fans in Accra as premiership football returns after a three week break to the end of the first round of the competition.

Match Facts:

The two sides have only met once in a competitive fixture since Dreams FC joined the elite division at the end of last season. It ended 1-1 at the Dawu Park in the first round of the league with Lawson Bekui scoring for Dreams FC and Paul Acquah replying for the Phobians.

GPL MATCH-Day 16 Preview: Hearts v Dreams FC

Hearts Fans Optimistic Of A Win Over Dreams FC

Fans of Ghana’s Premier club Accra Hearts of Oak are optimistic of a win over Dreams FC on Sunday as the Second Round of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) kicks off this weekend.

Sunday’s game at the Accra Sports Stadium will be the first for their new coach Sergio Traguil who has taken over from Kenichi Yatsuhashi as head of technical duties.

Hearts reached an agreement with the Japanese-American who agreed to cancel his two year contract with the Phobians, and, most fans Sportscrusader.com spoke to, expressed their confidence of a win for the new helmsman.

Most said they want the boys to give of their best on Sunday by going for the win for Hearts of Oak to start the second round on a high note as they chase the title.

The Phobians are fourth on the ladder at the half way mark of the season with 26 points, two adrift of leaders Wa All Stars and a win over Dreams FC on Sunday, could see them jump to the top spot if other results go their way.

Hearts lost three of their home games in the first round of the competition, and, this is a concern for the fans who said. They must improve on this if they are to win the ultimate at the end of the season.

“We did not have a good record at home in the first round and, this accounted for our inability to stay top of the ladder,” one fan said, adding that he hopes both the management and technical team have solved this problem as we head into the second half of the competition.

Most however sounded positive that they could win Sunday’s game against the GPL debutants, a side they drew 1-1 with in the first league game at Dawu.

Hearts Fans Optimistic Of A Win Over Dreams FC  

GPL Returns With A Bang This Weekend

The second round of the 2015/16 Ghana Premier League (GPL) returns with a bang this weekend with games at all league centers nationwide after taking a three week break at the end of the first round.

This season’s competition has been one of the most keenly contested in the history of the top-flight league in recent times and, this second round promises to be even keener.

Wa All Stars lead the standing at the halfway point with 28 points, two more than a quartet of clubs, Aduana Stars, Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak, and Medeama Sporting Club.

Life at the bottom is also interesting with New Edubiase United down at the foot of the ladder with 12 points, two behind Ebusua Dwarfs with Bechem United and Inter Allies on 15 and AshantiGold on 16.

The Miners who are the defending champions, will trek to the Red Bull Arena at Sogakope to play WAFA on Sunday. They drew goalless at Obuasi in the first round.

Leaders Wa All Stars will look to complete the double over Berekum Chelsea who they play at Wa after beating them 1-0 at Berekum in their last encounter.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko will trek to the Ohene Ameyaw Park to play Techiman City, a side they beat 4-2 in the first round tie at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

Bechem United will be home to Aduana Stars in a Brong Ahafo regional derby at the Nana Gyeabour Park and, will look to reverse the 2-4 deficit they suffered in the first round.

Medeama SC will play away to New Edubiase United at Obuasi after their 2-0 success in the first game; Inter Allies will host Sekondi Hasaacas at the Tema Park with Liberty Professionals playing away to Ebusua Dwarfs at Cape Coast.

GPL Returns With A Bang This Weekend

GPL MATCH PREVIEW : Leaders Head To The Golden City

Ghana Premier league leaders Wa All Stars heads to the Golden City Park in Berekum for the final matches of the first round.

The Northern Blues meet the true Blues wounded at the Tema Park by former Wa All Stars trainer Jimmy James Corbblah and his Inter Allies side.

Coach Solomon Odwo will be looking to capitalise on the home invincibility of his side at the hands of their visitors with six wins and one drawn game in the previous seven fixtures.

An inspired Kofi Owusu inflicted a 3-1 final day defeat on Wa All Stars before joining the bus to Egypt at the end of last season.

Replacement and the curent hottest commodity in the local scene, Saddick Adams, will be looking to say good bye to Berekum Chelsea with another masterpiece against the division’s best defensive set up.

The former Ashgold forward has already pocketed 8 goals in the opening 12 matches for the blues but will have to outwit Ismail Ganiu and Issahaku Konda at the back for Enos Adepa Kwame’s men.

Wa All Stars on the other hand could not have asked for a better period to head to Berekum after their 1-0 win over Kumasi Asante Kotoko over the weekends.

Celebrated centre forward Richard Arthur registered his fifth of the campaign at home to the Reds but will need additional shooting boots if he is to end the first half richer on the scorers chart.

A win over Berekum Chelsea will seal top spot for Wa All Stars whiles their Brong Ahafo based 2010 champions could seal a top four finish with a win.

Goal keeper Richard Ofori will be out for his 8th clean sheet in the first half of the season against the much fancied Saddick Adams led attack.

Can Wa All Stars record their first ever win away to Berekum Chelsea in their eighth attempts?

GPL MATCH PREVIEW : Leaders Head To The Golden City

Match Report: Bechem United 1-1 Hasaacas

Sekondi Hasaacas recorded a vital away draw as they held Bechem United to a 1-1 stalemate at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in the Ghana Premier League on Wednesday.

An early Abdenego Tetteh 13th minute penalty strike gave coach Manuel Zaccarius the lead which got the home fans ecstatic with the hope of moving away from the drop zone.

But second half substitute, Eric Adu Poku equalised for the struggling Hasaacas side after he connected home an Emmanuel Ankobeah free-kick in the 80th minute which ensured the two teams shared the spoils.

 

Kinsgley Adjei fouled Abednego Tetteh was fouled inside the penalty box by a reckless defending from Kingsley Adjei meant referee Uriah Glah had no option than point to the spot which was clinically finished off by Abednego to record Bechem’s ninth goal in 13 matches.

 

Hasaacas’s hunger to find an equaliser paid off as they equalised and returned to Sekondi with a valuable one point.

Match Report: Bechem United 1-1 Hasaacas

GPL Matchday 14 Preview: Hearts of Oak v Liberty Professionals

TEAM NEWS:

Soulama Abdoulaye has finished his three game suspension but he is away on international duty with Burkina Faso.

Musah Ibrahim is a doubt for the game after picking up a knock in the 1-1 draw encounter with Aduana Stars.

Samudeen Ibrahim and Musah Inusah are the closest to a first team return after training with the full squad on their return from injury.

But Richard Yamoah, Owusu Bempah, and Thomas Abbey are not too far behind in terms of full fitness.

Isaac Oduro is making good progress but he is still out on the sidelines.

MATCH PREVIEW:

Accra Hearts of Oak will host Liberty Professionals in a match-day 14 fixture of the 2016 Ghana Premier League 9GPL) at the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday, 26May, 2016.

The game will be played behind closed doors as Hearts complete the final game of a two-game home ban.

Hearts picked up a valuable away point at the home of Aduana Stars last Sunday, to maintain their lead at the top of the table, two points ahead of both Aduana Stars and Asante Kotoko, and they have a good opportunity to pull away from the chasing pack with victory against the Scientific Soccer lads on Thursday.

The Phobians have found it hard getting results at the Accra Sports Stadium, but they grained out a 1-0 victory over Hasaacas in the last match-day, behind closed doors.

Hearts will once again play without the fans against Liberty Professionals, who seem to have lost their mojo after a brilliant start.

The Dansoman-based side can turn on the style when they want and they have been able to rock the boat of the Phobians in recent times.

Liberty have a game in hand against Medeama, and played their game against New Edubiase United on Monday after the fixture was rained off the previous day. But they have won five times from their opening 11 games this season. Four of their wins have come at Dansoman but their away form reads played six, won one, drawn two, and lost three times.

Whizz-kid Latif Blessing has been the driving force of the free-scoring Scientific Soccer lads this season, having registered nine goals from 11 games and the Hearts defense have to keep a proper eye on his movements if they are to stop him from scoring on the day.

The Hearts defense have succeeded in keeping two of the three leading scorers in the Ghana League quiet, having enervated Eric Bekoe and frustrated Yahaya Mohammed. But the conundrum for coach Keni is which of the two center backs, Vincent Atingah and Richard Akrofi, will he give the nod to partner Robin Gnange.

Hearts have won 50% of their six home games, having defeated New Edubiase United (1-0), Bechem United (3-1), and Sekondi Hasaacas (1-0). But two defeats have also followed to Wa AllStars (1-3) and Asante Kotoko (0-1) and a draw with WAFA (1-1).

However, Coach Kenichi’s side will have to be ruthless at home, and start marching their away performance with that at the Accra Sports Stadium where they have found it tough cracking down opponents. The margin for error for Hearts is minimal now with three teams closely giving them a hot chase for the top-spot, and so they will have to come out firing on all cylinders to keep top spot against Liberty Professionals.

Last season, Liberty totally dominated in the first encounter in Accra, and they should have left with all three points but Hearts fought back to snatch a point through Richard Yamoah’s late header. In the last game between the two sides, Foovi Aguidi scored to ease the Phobians relegation worries in the closing stages of the 2014/15 league season.

The fans will not be allowed into the stadium because of the home ban but the onus lies on the players to replicate the result they secured against Hasaacas by beating Liberty ahead of another dicey trip to Dawu on Sunday.

MATCH FACTS

The two sides have met 32 times since Liberty Professionals’ promotion to the Premier League in 1999. Hearts have triumphed 19 times against Liberty Professionals. Liberty Professionals have won 8 times and drawn 5 times against Hearts of Oak in the league.

80 goals have been scored in this fixture. Hearts lead the way with 49 goals against Liberty’s 31.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

SEASON/YEAR          SCORE/RESULT

1999                    HEARTS 2 – 0 LIBERTY

LIBERTY 0 – 1 HEARTS

2000                    HEARTS 4 – 2 LIBERTY

LIBERTY 3 – 2 HEARTS

2001                    HEARTS 4 – 2 LIBERTY

LIBERTY 1 – 3 HEARTS

2002                    LIBERTY 1 – 2 HEARTS

HEARTS 0 – 1 LIBERTY

2003                    LIBERTY 1 – 1 HEARTS

HEARTS 3 – 1 LIBERTY

2004                    HEARTS 3 – 0 LIBERTY

LIBERTY 3 – 0 HEARTS

2005/06               LIBERTY 0 – 1 HEARTS

HEARTS 1 – 0 LIBERTY

2006/07               HEARTS 1 – 1 LIBERTY

LIBERTY 0 – 0 HEARTS

2007/8                 HEARTS 1 – 0 LIBERTY

LIBERTY 1 – 2 HEARTS

2008/9                 HEARTS 3 – 1 LIBERTY

LIBERTY 0 – 0 HEARTS

2009/10               LIBERTY 0 – 1 HEARTS

HEARTS 2 – 3 LIBERTY

2010/11               HEARTS 0 – 1 LIBERTY

LIBERTY 1 – 2 HEARTS

2011/12                LIBERTY 2 – 0 HEARTS

HEARTS 0 – 1 LIBERTY

2012/13                HEARTS 2 – 0 LIBERTY

LIBERTY 1 – 3 HEARTS

2013/14                HEARTS 2 – 0 LIBERTY

LIBERTY 3 – 1 HEARTS

2014/15                 HEARTS 1 – 1 LIBERTY

LIBERTY 0 – 1 HEARTS

2016                      HEARTS ? – ? LIBERTY

GPL Matchday 14 Preview: Hearts of Oak v Liberty Professionals

GPL Preview: Can Kotoko Continue Revival Against New Edubiase?

If the revival of Kumasi Asante Kotoko in post-Duncan era, is a coincidence, the fraternity of the club, will hope it continues indefinitely.

The Porcupine Warriors will face struggling New Edubiase at the Baba Yara sports stadium on Match Week 9 of the 2015/16 Ghana Premier League (GPL).

Kotoko will be buoyed by the resurgence in the last three games, but the game will be a tricky one considering the success New Edubiase have chalked against Kotoko at the stadium.

Both teams have won 2 matches in their six matches played in Kumasi, and that could be the impetus for “Yenkonkoaa” boys when they line up against Anthony Commey’s side.

Coaches believe every game against the same opposition is different, and that could be key in Michael Osei’s approach to the game.

The change in technical direction which kept the club in comical and ridiculous state, seem to be a blessing in disguise, as Kotoko gradually edge towards the confidence they had during the pre-season.

Some individuals are rising to the occasion of being Porcupines, and they will unleashed the arsenals they are made of to keep Kotoko’s home superiority intact.

New Edubiase on the other hand, is at the foot of the league table, and relegation survival fight will be at the back of their minds when they step on to the pitch.

New Edubiase have not won an away in the ongoing league, their best being a draw against WAFA. The last time New Edubiase won an away league game, was in 2014 against Asante Kotoko.

Accusing finger is pointed at New Edubiase’s inexperience after the sale of key players in Nuhu brothers and Abraham Asiedu Attobrah.

Asante Kotoko and New Edubiase have met 12 times, and they are at par. Both sides have won three apiece, with the other three ending in a stalemate.

GPL Preview: Can Kotoko Continue Revival Against New Edubiase?

"PLB To Release Fixtures Soon"-Ashford Tettey-Oku

The chairman of the Premier League Board (PLB), Ashford Tettey-Oku, says they are awaiting the green light from the Executive Committee (ExCo) of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to officially release the fixtures for upcoming league for the 2015/16 season scheduled to commence on February 20.

The ExCo’s endorsement, according to Mr Tettey-Oku, was in compliance with Article 68 of the GFA statute, which requires the ExCo members to scrutinise the fixtures once generated before giving their endorsement for subsequent release.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic on Tuesday, the newly-appointed PLB boss said they had already generated the fixtures with their computer software but the PLB would ensure they were released as soon as the ExCo members were satisfied with them.

He said the Club Licensing Board was expected to commence inspection of the various venues for the 16 Premier League clubs and the 48 Division One League (DOL) clubs, but warned that they would not hesitate to apply the rules on clubs that fell short of the requirement.

“We will notify all clubs by Friday about the intended inspection which comes off on Monday and we expect that they would meet the basic requirements to avoid any sanctions,” he said

The club venues are expected to meet certain basic requirements such as the presence of inner perimeter, changing rooms, adequate washroom facilities, among other basic things needed to be present in a stadium.

"PLB To Release Fixtures Soon"-Ashford Tettey-Oku