Sports
Can Kotoko crack the Aduana nut at Dormaa?
Ghana’s two football powerhouses Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko are gradually renewing their intense title challenge with the two sides locked neck-and-neck on 46 points with eight games remaining in a tight Ghana Premier League (GPL) campaign.
The heated title hunt between the two decorated clubs which used to be a regular feature of the league season lost its place as the two sides giants struggled to find their feet in the early race as they chased the tail of Medeama, Karela United, Aduana SC and Great Olympics.
But as the competition heads into its 27th week, the two sides have rediscovered their form and historic urge to lead the chase for the title with Hearts on top on goal difference.
But Kotoko can resume temporary charge of the summit after they relinquished topspot to their arch-rivals, drawing their last two games. Heading to Dormaa to face Aduana Stars today, that task would be a difficult one as the ‘Ogya boys’ have carved a reputation as a bogey side for the visitors – winning their last two encounters.
Compounding the revenge mission for the ‘Porcupine Warriors’ would be the absence of head coach Mariano Barreto who is away in Portugal to ostensibly renew his UEFA coaching licence and the dreaded mission of playing at the Nana Agyemang Badu Park where the homeside are yet to be defeated in 12 outings.
The trump card for the Porcupines would be the ability of their strike force comprising Fabio Gama, Andy Kumi, and Emmanuel Gyamfi to convert their scoring opportunities, a phenomenon that was missing in their last game against WAFA.
The situation is a sharp contrast in the camp of Hearts of Oak who are flying high under Samuel Boadu. The ‘Phobians’ are on a four-game winning streak and would be hoping to extend that run against an ailing Berekum Chelsea team whose last game against an Accra-based team was a 5-1 drubbing by Inter Allies. More remarkably, the rippling success would be that the Phobians extend their stay at the summit.
In other games, fourth–placed Medeama who lost some fire in their title bid will confront bottom side Inter Allies at the Theatre of Dreamsat Dawu. They must, however, be mindful against the homeside who by recent results have proved their readiness to fight against the relegation drop to the death.
High-flying Dreams’form would be tested by relegation-threatened Liberty Professionals today at Sogakope.
A local derby set to thrill locals at Techiman would be contended between a revived King Faisal and distraught Eleven Wonders. With both sides facing the threat of relegation, the game is primed to be a heated affair that will serve the appetite of the 25 per cent football fans permitted to the venue on Sunday.
Resurgent WAFA, unbeaten in three games, will hope to carry on with their new venture against Ebusua Dwarfs who have a knack for tilting the scales, setting the game up as a blockbuster at the Sogakope Park on Sunday.
Legon Cities headcoach, Bashiru Hayford who has made significant strides in steering his team away from the relegation pit will guide his charges against his former side Ashantigold who fell off a cliff after a good start, while Bechem United would be eager to get back on track against struggling Elmina Sharks.
As of press time yesterday, visiting Olympics were slotting it out with Karela at the dreaded Crosby Awuah Memorial (CAM) Park in Aiyinase.
BY NANA BENTSI ODURO
Officials from the Ghana mission in the United Arab Emirates have paid a morale-boosting visit to the camp of the Black Queens.
The delegation, made up of Consular Officer Percy Okudzeto, Consul and Head of Chancery Abdul-Jalil Sigli Yakubu Abdulai and Head of Transport Anas Shaibu, visited the team to assure them of the government’s support and commitment to their safety and welfare.
During the visit, the officials interacted with the team and offered words of encouragement, urging the team to remain focused on the tournament despite concerns surrounding unrest in parts of the UAE.
Consular Officer Percy Okudzeto emphasised that the Ghanaian government, through its diplomatic mission, is closely monitoring the situation and is committed to ensuring the team’s safety throughout their stay.
“We want the team to stay calm and focus on the competition. The government and the embassy are doing everything possible to ensure your safety and well-being.” he said.
Consul and Head of Chancery Abdul-Jalil Sigli Yakubu Abdulai also reiterated the mission’s readiness to provide any assistance required by the team during the tournament.
Leadership of the team expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as timely and motivating.
With the backing of Ghana’s diplomatic officials in the UAE, the Black Queens remain determined to represent the country proudly and deliver strong performances in the Pink Ladies Cup.
The Black Queens have arrived in the United Arab Emirates to participate in the upcoming Pink Ladies Cup in Dubai. The team touched down at the Dubai International Airport via Emirates Air on Wednesday morning and were warmly received by the competition’s organising officials.
The squad will be based at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, where they will begin their final preparations for the tournament. Organised as part of the international women’s football calendar, the Pink Ladies Cup is expected to feature four national sides using the competition to assess their squads and fine-tune strategies for upcoming tournaments.
Ghana will open their campaign today with a clash against Hong Kong, while Russia and Tanzania face off in the other opening match.
The Black Queens are then scheduled to return to action on March 3, when they take on Russia in a match expected to test them against a physically strong opponent.
The final round of games will be played on March 6, with Ghana closing their campaign against Tanzania at 9:00 pm.
With three matches in eight days, the tournament promises to be a crucial phase in Ghana’s preparation, as the Black Queens aim to return to continental action sharper, stronger, and more competitive.
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