Sports
Dreams FC aim to dent Medeama’s title hopes
GHANA Premier League leaders, Medeama SC’s resolve to win a second title will be tested tomorrow when they trek to the Tuba Astro Turf to face Dreams FC in a Match day 26 fixture.
Yet to win in their last five games, Medeama SC is under pressure to scale the Dreams FC hurdle, knowing that any result other than a win could see second-place Bibiani Gold Stars overtake them.
For Dreams FC’s Coach, Winfred Dormon, it will be the first of two defeats they aim to hand the visitors, as they face off again in the semi-finals of the MTN FA Cup next month.
But Coach Tanko Ibrahim’s Medeama pursuit of a domestic glory and a historic double this season is so precious, and every member of the team is ready to achieve it.
At the Dun’s Park in Bibiani, defending champions, Gold Stars, would be chasing their 11th win in 13 matches when they lock horns with Vision FC. Breathing heavily on the necks of leaders, Medeama SC, who lead by a point, the ‘Miners’ will look to add the visitors to their growing list of casualties in their push to retain the title they won last season.
Swiss tactician, Fritz Markus Schmid, believes the tie will not be an easy one, as he describes the visitors as a solid side. However, he was quick to add that they will surely see off the Tema-based side to further boost their dreams of retaining the title.
Having scored 18 goals at home with five conceded, Coach Schmid is hoping that in-form striker, Samuel Attah Kumi, the leading goal scorer with 11 goals, will continue his fine form in front.
Having defeated Gold Stars 3-0 in the first-round fixture, Vision FC possesses a surprising venom in big games, making this fixture a slippery one for the hosts.
Fifth-placed Asante Kotoko would hope to return to winning ways when they welcome Nations FC to the Baba Yara Stadium in a cagey encounter.
At the Golden City Park in Berekum, relegation-threatened Berekum Chelsea would be hoping to record their eighth win of the season when they welcome high-flying Karela United.
Title chasers, Aduana FC, will trek to Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem to battle Bechem United FC in a tricky tie. Basake Holy Stars will stay put at the Ampian AAK II Sports Arena in Azulewanu to host Young Apostles, while Swedru All Blacks face Hohoe United at Swedru Stadium.
By Raymond Ackumey
Accra Hearts of Oak will aim to assume the top spot of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) when they travel to Tema to face Vision FC at the Nii Adjei Kraku Sports Complex today.
Perched at the second spot and trailing leaders Medeama with three points, the Phobians would need to snatch the maximum points and a superior goal aggregate to have a taste of the top spot, at least for a day.
It will be a game full of fireworks considering Hearts’ impressive performance on the road against Vision’s strength at home.
The Matchday 6 games would also witness a Saturday clash between Heart of Lions and Berekum Chelsea FC at the Kpando Stadium.
Asante Kotoko’s home clash against Young Apostles will headline tomorrow’s games as they aim to bounce back after the previous week’s defeat in Swedru.
At the Nsenkyire Sports Arena, FC Samartex will test Medeama SC’s character when they clash in what could affect their respective positions on the table after the round seven matches.
After the giant-killing feat over Asante Kotoko, Swedru All Blacks will lock horns with Karela United at the Swedru Stadium just as Basake Holy Stars engage Bechem United at the AAK II Sports Arena,
Fireworks is anticipated at the Debibi Presby Park in the Bono region where Debibi United FC look poised to face Gold Stars.
At the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park, Aduana FC will welcome FC Ashantigold in a clash that will see fans applaud afternoon.
By Andrew Nortey
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Over two decades ago, I made a statement that if I was given the sole responsibility to come out with the league fixtures for the season, I could give some advantage to some clubs and make winning the league difficult for other clubs. People laughed it off.
To them, it didn’t make sense because in a league in which all clubs play each other twice, things will ‘balance out,’ and the best club will win. I disagree, and I will explain.
In recent times, it seems Kumasi Asante Kotoko has more difficult first five games in the league than arch rivals Accra Hearts of Oak. Debatable?
This is exactly one of the ways to make it difficult for a club to win the league (if a club is marginally better than the others). How can making the first matches in the league difficult for a club lead to a disadvantage for the club?
A. The club starts on a poor note and may struggle to catch up
Imagine a club playing its first five matches against its most difficult opponents. If the club draws all five matches, it will end up with five points. A rival club that plays its easiest matches in the first five games could end up with 15 points.
It will not be easy for the club with five points to catch up with the club with 15 points because other factors will come in.
B. Psychological ‘boost’ for the winning club and possible stress/’depression’ for the seemingly struggling club
The team that is winning gets a boost. They appear to be better. Their players get confident. Their strikers may be leading on the Goal King chart. Their goalkeeper(s) will be having more clean sheets – finishing matches without conceding goals.
This will be opposite for the team that played more difficult matches. The supporters may be demanding more from the players, putting them under more pressure.
Some of the players may ‘crack’ under the pressure. New players are especially more difficult to settle down. They may end up on the bench for subsequent matches and may struggle to recover and come back into the first team.
C. The coach may be sacked or may resign/leave under pressure
The coach of the club that plays more difficult matches will come under pressure. The coach is likely going to be judged by the points accrued and the position of the club on the league table, not by the quality of opposition faced.
The pressure will come from the bosses and the supporters. The coach may end up being sacked or resigning/leaving under pressure.
D. Players more likely to get injured in tough matches
The club that plays more difficult matches is likely to record more injuries of its players early in the season. Some players may miss the whole season through injuries.
On the other hand, the club that plays easier matches earlier in the season will have the luxury to substitute and rest players when they are comfortably leading in matches.
Players may not have to exert themselves so much, reducing the risk of injuries.
E. Supporters abandon the team that is not winning and may not go to the stadium to give home support
If a club is not winning, its supporters may not pay money to go to the stadium to watch matches. In fact, they may not even go to the stadium if they are asked to go and watch matches for free.
This will not only have financial consequences for the club, an almost empty stadium takes away the home advantage from the ‘intimidation’ of supporters.
The above are all reasons why the first games in the league can give an advantage or a disadvantage to clubs.
Once this it accepted, it means there must be fairness in coming up with the league fixtures if we want the best club(s) to emerge as winners who can represent the country and not disgrace the country internationally.
A transparent way of coming up with the league fixtures is needed (like how balloting is done for knockout competitions).
This way, clubs and individuals cannot complain that someone or some people decided to favour some clubs through the league fixtures.
By Dr. (Med) Kofi Effah
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