Sports
Dreams to give Kotoko tough time
Dreams FC will be hoping to upset yet another top side when they clash with Kumasi Asante Kotoko in their crunch Week 23 fixture of the Ghana Premier League at the Len Clay Sports Stadium today.
The ‘slayers’ of Hearts of Oak will be beaming with confidence as they go into today’s encounter in their quest to jumble the Porcupine Warriors’ title ambitions.
Kotoko managed to bounce back to winning ways against Legon Cities in their last encounter but could be halted again by a very resolute and disciplined Dreams FC team.
Dreams, currently fifth on the league table, would be pushing for a top four position and a win against second-placed Kotoko will make their dreams come true.
With other teams including Great Olympics and Hearts on their heels, Kotoko cannot also afford to drop points in today’s game.
The Porcupine Warriors would be hoping to make home amends following their surprising 2-1 defeat to Medeama in their last home game.
They would rely on their recent upsurge under coach Mariano Barreto to get the job done and keep their hopes of winning this season’s league.
With the likes of Fabio Gama, Michael Vinicius, Naby Keita and Emmanuel Gyamfi in rich form, Kotoko would go all out to avoid any threat that Dreams would possess.
Kotoko struggled to beat Dreams FC 1-0 in the first round of this season’s league and would need to put in extra effort to get a double over the side that would also be seeking revenge on the day.
Today’s dicey encounter would pave way for other mouthwatering fixtures tomorrow including the clash between league leaders Medeama and Liberty Professionals at Sogakope.
Desperate to maintain their top spot, Medeama would go all out to clinch the three points while a win for a rejuvenated Liberty side would be fancied as they hope to stay far above the relegation zone.
Hearts would face off with the last-but-one on the league table – King Faisal, in another interesting encounter that would see both teams battle it out for the maximum points.
For Hearts, the three points would see them bounce back to winning ways after their defeat to Dreams FC in their last encounter and also keep them within top four while King Faisal would need the points in their bid to escape relegation.
The Len Clay Sports Stadium will also host the clash between Ashantigold and Techiman Eleven Wonders with the home side expected to secure all three points.
Aduana Stars face off with Berekum Chelsea at the Nana Agyemang Badu Park in another mouthwatering encounter, while Inter Allies clash with Elmina Sharks in Dawu.
Sixth and seventh-placed Karela and Bechem United respectively, would also face off at the Camp Park at Anyinase with Karela looking forward to making their home dominance count once again.
At the Cape Coast Stadium, the likes of Asamoah Ghana and Victorien Adebayor would be looking forward to finding their scoring boots for struggling Legon Cities when they play Ebusua Dwarfs.
BY MICHAEL D. ABAYATEYE
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
