Sports
Hearts face Inter Allies in cracker
Accra Hearts of Oak would seek to make amends for their last-gasp 2-2 stalemate against Ashantigold on Tuesday when they face Inter Allies in an ‘Accra affair’ tomorrow at the Accra Sports Stadium in the Ghana Premier league (GPL).
With the league entering its third week, Coach Edward Odoom of Hearts would be focused on seeing a much sharper attack – after he lamented in post-match against Ashantigold how missed opportunities to ‘kill’ the game stung them in the end by Hans Kwofie’s late equaliser for the visitors.
Allies themselves have really sweated with the absence of skipper and lethal forward Victorien Adebayor whose 12 goals in the truncated season kept them afloat as Henrik Lehm’s side are yet to hit the back of the net in their two games this campaign.
Earlier this year in the truncated season, the ‘Phobians’ needed a late effort from defender Mohammed Alhassan to share the spoils in an enthralling encounter that ended 1-1.
With home side Allies eager for their first win and a goal, and Hearts determined to improve their conversion rate, the clash is expected to spark off fireworks with Paul Abagna leading the charge for Allies, whilst attacker Kojo Obeng Jnr will be hoping to repeat his dosage of brace on Tuesday in Phobian colours against Allies.
Elsewhere in Dormaa, Aduana Stars will welcome Bechem United to the Nana Agyemang Badu l Park in a regional derby. In the truncated league, Aduana was able to grab a point in Bechem after a barren encounter – a result the ‘Hunters’ would look to better with their talented crop of youngsters led by Hafiz Konkoni, scoring prodigy Kwabena Adu and Moro Salifu.
But in experienced forward Yakubu Mohammed, Caleb Amankwaa, Stephen Bioh, Benjamin Adjei and goalie Joe Addo, they will meet a well-drilled ‘Ogya boys’ unit who have turned their home venue into a waterloo for their opponents.
In other games, Ebusua Dwarfs will have a difficult game on their hands as they host undefeated Berekum Chelsea at the Cape Coast Stadium, whilst WAFA despite their invincibility at their Sogakope base would be wary of Yaw Acheampong’s Elmina Sharks who proved to be ‘stubborn’ on the road in the truncated league.
In Aiyanase, a rejuvenated Karela team will play their second home game on the bounce when they face Dreams FC at the reconstructed CAM Park. The two sides, both unbeaten, would tussle to keep their impressive start going with Karela favourites at their dreaded Nzema base.
At the Carl Reindorf Park in Dansoman today, Liberty Professionals will face a major test against the Techiman side, XI Wonders.
The ‘Scientific Soccer’ lads, in search of their first win, slot it out with a Wonders side primed to be the surprise package of this campaign and would need an aggressive performance from Abraham Wayo, George Ansong, Razak Boame and Samuel Amofa to overcome creative player Ibrahim Salifu-inspired Wonders outfit.
Games between Great Olympics and Asante Kotoko as well as Ashantigold and King Faisal have been rescheduled as both Kotoko and AshantiGold are engaged in continental competitions.
BY NANA BENTSI ODURO
Attention will be at the Golden City Park in Berekum tomorrow as Hearts of Oak lock horns with Berekum Chelsea FC in a Ghana Premier League Matchday 6 game that promises an electrifying atmosphere.
Lying sixth on the league table with two wins and three draws, the Phobians visit a ground that has been favourable to them in recent times. In their last three visits to the Golden City Park, Hearts have amassed seven out of nine points, putting them in strong contention to win.
Head Coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani says, “The team is making progress in its tactical identity despite the lack of goals, and this is something we are working on ahead of this game.”
Hearts will come face-to-face with former coach Samuel Boadu, whose side lies a distant 13th on the league table with a win and a draw from four games. Coach Boadu is yet to celebrate a victory over the Phobians since joining the Berekum lads and would hope this fixture marks a turnaround.
Ninth-placed Vision FC would trek to the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem to play Bechem United, while new boys Hohoe United host Aduana FC at the Hohoe Sports Stadium.
Returnees Swedru All Blacks will welcome Basake Holy Stars to the Swedru Sports Stadium, with defending league champions Bibiani Gold Stars staying put at their backyard, the Dun’s Park, to welcome second-placed Heart of Lions FC on Monday.
Today at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa, Medeama SC will clash with Samartex FC in a Western derby. Other games scheduled for today would see Eleven Wonders FC host Karela United at the Swedru Sports Stadium, while Dreams FC face Nations FC at the Tuba Astro Turf.
By Raymond Ackumey
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Ghana coach Otto Addo may not command the kind of fear and respect like Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Luis Enrique and others in the modern game, but in his small corner, he is gradually climbing the ladder to greatness in Ghana, Africa and the world at large.
The aforementioned coaches attained greatness with club sides and, therefore, open an argument over whether one is not comparing apples to oranges. But no matter how one looks at it, they are all coaches harbouring similar ambitions to attain greatness in their fields.
Otto Addo is one of the young and upcoming coaches holding a lot of promise and was getting experience with his association with Borussia Dortmund in Germany until his path was directed by a Ghana call.
Although he was born in Germany, Otto Addo’s association with Ghana football dates back to 1999, spanning a period of about seven years; commencing with a 5–0 rout of Eritrea on February 28. He gained international prominence when he joined the squad for the 2000 African Cup of Nations. He featured as a midfielder in the team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
But like it’s often said, a prophet is not recognised in his own home and his efforts partially went unnoticed. He’ll go into the annals as one of the Black Stars coaches to have been fairly or otherwise criticised not just by ‘football people’ but fans who doubted him.
His sack has been discussed at various platforms by people whose knowledge and tactical acumen about the game remains questionable. Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Adams, at one point openly stated his doubts over Otto Addo’s ability to actually deliver.
No coach would feel secured in such turbulent times, but coach Otto Addo kept his calm and composure. On the corridors of his employers, however, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) president, Kurt Okraku, openly rallied support for him, though a few ‘doubting Thomases’ still questioned his credentials.
That painted a picture of a people that forget easily and are quick to crucify. In a brief moment of adversity, Ghanaians forgot how Otto Addo was brought in to pluck qualification for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup from the jaws of the Super Eagles of Nigeria with a solitary goal over two legs.
The upshot of that feat was not one any Nigerian would want to remember. The scenes after the match were awfully chaotic, as fans vented their anger on facilities at the stadium. Back in Ghana, it was partying all night and day.
Otto Addo was labeled the football magician. He achieved something no Ghanaian coach had ever accomplished; a feat which Ghana with her all-time best teams could not attain. That was the climax to which Otto Addo took Ghana football, generating calls to start believing in the Ghanaian coach.
Following that to the World Cup proper was another story altogether. It was, or may have been, our poorest show at any of the four World Cup appearances. And just as it was stipulated in his contract, he bowed out after the Qatar World Cup to mind his Borussia Dortmund business with peace.
But as fate would have it, nature found a way to renew his romance with Ghana football after an unconvincing start to the America, Canada and Mexico dream World Cup under special advisor turned coach, Chris Hughton.
Ghana started the qualifiers on a winning note but not a convincing performance. It was saved by an Inaki Williams goal scored on the sixth minute of additional time against Madagascar at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. The Black Stars then slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the Stade de Moroni to Comoros to heighten calls for a new technical direction.
Then stepped in Otto Addo when Ghana occupied the fourth position in Group I with three points but with the countries in the group evenly matched.
By Andrew Nortey
