Sports
A Dream test for Kotoko
The long-awaited Ghana Premier League (GPL) 2021/2022 returned yesterday after 140 days of respite and saw debutants Accra Lions take on Elmina Sharks in a very cagey contest at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The action continues this weekend across all game centres with the top-liner being an evening fixture tonight between Dreams FC and Asante Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Under new gaffer Dr Prosper Narteh Ogum, the Porcupine Warriors will be eager to thrill their expectant fans to some spectacular football, following their massive buys as they start their campaign in a cagey game tonight.
New signings including Stephen Amankona, Joseph Amoako and Cameroonian forward Mbella Franch Thierry are expected to give the Fabulous a flamboyant debut.
On Sunday, defending champions Hearts of Oak will look to put their CAF Champions League disappointment behind them as they open their title defence against Legon Cities FC at the Accra Sports Stadium – a venue the Phobians have not tasted defeat since the appointment of Samuel Boadu.
But the question still remains; can the Royals halt the Rainbow boys?
At the renovated Dun’s Park in Bibiani tomorrow, new entrants Gold Stars will have their share of the cake when they slug it out with Berekum Chelsea. The Golden Boys will be aiming to cement their stay in the top-flight as they have kept hold of stars including Prince Owusu Kwabena, Ernest Kusi who played an integral role in their truimph as Division One League Champions in Zone 2.
But can Chelsea do without the services of star man Stephen Amankona, who is now a Porcupine?
At the Ohene Ameyaw Park, Eleven Wonders, handled by ex-Ghana International Yaw Acheampong, will hope to start their season on a flyer when they play Ashanti Gold in Techiman.
Elsewhere, West Africa Football Academy (WAFA) will hope to go a step higher on the table this season (finished third last season with 56 points) as they travel to Kumasi to play King Faisal at the renovated Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Real Tamale United (RTU) will try to put on a fine display on their return to the elite division when they battle it out with Great Olympics at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale.
Bechem United and Medeama SC will look to claim the maximum points at stake when they square off at the Nana Fosu Gyeambour Park in Bechem.
Tomorrow at the Crosby Awuah Memorial Park at Aiyinase, impressive Karela United FC will go neck-to-neck with Aduana Stars at the Crosby Awuah Memorial Park at Aiyinase to climax the first round of games.
BY LINUS SIAW NARTEY
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
