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
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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