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