Battle for title, relegation takes centre stage

• Sampson Eduku – Tamale City

 six more games left to climax the 2022/23 betPawa Premier League, this week­end promises another round of mouth-watering clashes as chase for the title remains competitively open.

Though leaders Aduana Stars occupy the apex with

 50 points, it is not done and dusted for them yet as they are closely followed (as of Wednesday night) by Mede­ama SC (47), Bechem United (45) and Berekum Chelsea (43) heading into the week­end’s cagey games.

Badly bruised Hearts of Oak will host King Faisal on match-day 29 at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday after their 4-1 loss to Tamale City, while reigning champi­ons Asante Kotoko welcome in-form Tamale City to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

The Phobians have been shot twice in their last two meetings, a 1-0 defeat to Bechem United before their recent 4-1 mauling by City in mid-week.

Though Hearts occupy the fifth spot on the league with 42 points, a win over the ‘Insha’ Allah boys will close the gap on Aduana with 50 points.

Also, the Phobians were held to a pulsating 0-0 stale­mate with the Kumasi-based side in the first round, eager to return to winning ways.

With two wins and a draw in their last three encoun­ters, Tamale City will be aiming to continue their fine form when they come up against Kotoko.

Both sides shared the spoils from a 1-1 draw in the first round when Isaah Nyaabila poked in an own goal before Ibrahim Babamu scored to level matters.

Having lost 2-1 to Aduana Stars prior to this game, the Porcupine Warriors will leave no stone unturned as they are charged to give the visitors a good run for their money.

At the Nana Fosu Gye­abour Park tomorrow, Be­chem United will lock horns with Samartex in a cracking encounter, while struggling Accra Great Olympics will make a trip to the Dun’s Park against Gold Stars same day.

In Dawu, Dreams FC will play as hosts of Legon Cities, while relegation-threatened Karela United square off with Berekum Chelsea at the Cros­by Awuah Memorial Park.

Relegated Kotoku Royals will battle it out with Aduana Stars, while the Nana Kro­nmansah Park in Nsoatre will host Nsoatreman and Medea­ma SC.

As many as six clubs including RTU (36), King Faisal (36), Tamale City (35), Dreams FC (34), Nsoatre­man (34), Olympics (32) and Karela United (32) find them­selves in danger zone; reason this weekend’s ties would be brutally contested.

 BY LINUS SIAW NARTEY