Sports
Clubs chase top spot in GPL
The battle for the top spot on this season’s Ghana Premier League continues unabated as very cagey Week Nine fixtures this weekend is expected to witness some massive shake-up at the summit.
Though Ashantigold has so far displayed some consistency and currently on top of the table, just leapfrogging Bechem United on goal difference, other teams including Karela, WAFA, Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko are chasing the pack and steadily climbing their way to the top.
The development, presents a very interesting weekend ahead with some mouthwatering fixtures; top on the list – Hearts taking on Eleven Wonders tomorrow at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Fifth-placed Hearts would be hoping to bounce back to winning ways after drawing one all with Elmina Sharks in their last encounter at home.
A win against arguably the team of the season so far, Eleven Wonders, will place Hearts on 15 points, same as the current league leaders which would be hugely fancied by the Phobian fraternity.
Wonders, however, have been a huge mountain to climb this season, mesmerising opponents with some good football and pulling some surprises which Hearts should be wary of.
They would fancy all three points which could also catapult them to top six position and possibly top four, going into the next round of games.
Another cracker on Sunday would be at Sogakope where fourth-placed WAFA face off with sixth-placed Kotoko with just a point separating the two sides.
Known for their great individual talents and dominance at home, WAFA would go all out in an attempt to maintain their top four position after being tipped as one of the favourites to win this season’s league.
WAFA, also known as giant killers, would be hoping to stop their visitors who are gradually gaining confidence which saw them defeat Liberty Professionals 2-0 in their last game.
The Porcupine Warriors have also been presented a good opportunity to enter top four as they would secure 15 points with a win away from home against WAFA.
With their new Brazilian inspiration – Fabio Gama fast becoming fans’ favourite just after a majestic first game which saw him provide two assists, Kotoko would be beaming with confidence ahead of the encounter.
Fans are already eager to see their new darling boy in action and another impressive performance would definitely give Kotoko something to smile about at Sogakope.
The weekend’s actions would, however, begin today with Liberty Professionals taking on Ebusua Dwarfs at the Carl Reindorf Park with the home side desperate for a win.
Liberty have been blowing hot and cold this season but a win today would be a huge boost to the team and desperate fans in Dansoman as they look forward to a win after their embarrassing defeat to Kotoko in their previous game.
On Sunday also, second-placed Bechem United would square off with Dreams FC at Bechem in another interesting fixture with the home side hoping to maintain their position.
Dreams, however, would need to upset their host to push themselves away from their 14th position and avoid slipping into the relegation zone.
Legon Cities would also be looking to another win after securing their first win of the season in their last encounter against WAFA as they travel to face Aduana Stars.
Though they would have wished to have an ‘easier’ opponent to clinch another win, Legon Cities must, nevertheless, put up an extraordinary performance to torment Aduana at home.
Aduana, on the other hand, would not easily give away three points especially at their own backyard and the quest to get above their current ninth position hanging around their necks.
Elsewhere, league leaders Ashantigold would take on Medeama at the Len Clay Sports Stadium as the home side face a challenge that could make them slip at the summit.
Medeama, after a slow start of the season, are beginning to find their form and managed to beat Aduana Stars 2-1 in the last game. A win against Ashantigold would be a huge step in their ongoing revival.
In other games, bottom-placed King Faisal would be looking forward to changing their fortunes for the better as they face Elmina Sharks while third-placed Karela would also clash with struggling Berekum Chelsea in another mouthwatering fixture.
It promises to be an action-packed weekend of football as teams continue to battle for glory in this year’s league season.
BY MICHAEL D. ABAYATEYE
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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