Sports
Can Kotoko halt Karela’s run?
League leaders Karela United’s attempt to extend their lead at the top of the league will face fierce opposition today when they contend with Asante Kotoko in a match-day 13 Ghana Premier league clash.
Karela have taken the league by storm shocking many pundits with their early climb to the summit and their sterling performance that has seen them lose just two out of 12 games.
Impressively, the ‘Passion and Pride’ boys have won all six games at their dreaded CAM Park at Anyinase, dispatching off opponents with ease.
Despite this impressive run, Coach Evans Adotey’s boys may face the biggest threat to entrench their home invincibility against a Kotoko side who are yet to lose on the road in six outings and inflicted a 1-0 defeat on the homeside in a similar fixture at the CAM Park last year in the truncated league.
Both sides boast clinical arrowheads as Karela have in their fold the league’s top-scorer Diawiase Taylor whilst Kotoko striker Kwame Opoku would be eager to score after failing to hit the back of the net in three games.
At the Accra Sports Stadium, Hearts of Oak would pitch their strength against a resurgent Legon Cities in a local derby. Cities would be eager to continue their fine form that has seen them climb drastically out of the claws of relegation into 11th on the league log. This aim would be a long-shot with the ‘Phobians’ losing two Accra derbies against Allies and Olympics, they would be eager to reclaim some pride in the capital against Cities.
In other games, high-flying Olympics will be eager to maintain their momentum against Bechem United but would be required to produce double of their scintillating displays as Bechem United are undefeated at the Nana Gyeambour Park whilst WAFA’s quest to overcome their 3-0 loss in Dawu against Dreams would be a herculean ordeal against Aduana at Dormaa.
At the Len Clay Stadium at Obuasi, Ashantigold who are suffering a loss of form after going winless in three games face Liberty Professionals who like the ‘Miners’ have lost their way and must carve a winning plan as they battle with the threat of relegation.
Dreams FC, who are on the ascendancy, will face a difficult task trekking to Bechem to face XI Wonders, who despite a promising start have stuttered with a run of bad results with Elmina Sharks confronting Berekum Chelsea at the Nduom Park.
King Faisal would be hoping to repeat their splendid displays that saw them bounce back from 3-0 down to win 4-3 against Berekum Chelsea on Matchweek 11 against Medeama, despite losing to Olympics 3-1 in Accra on Wednesday, ‘Alhaji Gruzah’ boys have shown a determination to avoid the relegation drop with top marksman Kwame Peprah leading the charge.
Bottom-placed Inter Allies’ hopes to revive their season would have to pass the litmus test against stubborn Ebusua Dwarfs who have proven to be good travelers this season when the two sides clash in Accra.
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
