Sports
Getting ready for domestic football
There is something in the air. There is football in the skies. It is domestic football.
In the next few days, starting specifically on November 13, next week, local football will gush out from the feet of more than 180 players across the fields – all-too ready to feed an intensely starved local football contingent.
As you may have been aware, the government placed a ban on domestic football in March, this year, in the heat of the COVID-19 fatal outbreak – ultimately leading to the cancellation of the 2019/2020 season.
Ghanaians were utterly disappointed that their football had been frozen, but they had absolutely no choice. There was only a Hobson’s choice.
As a matter of fact, the Premier League was at the Match-Week 15 stage when it was suspended. All other national football competitions, including the men’s FA Cup, women’s Premier League and FA Cup competitions, second tier and third tier championships all similarly came to a halt.
Heartily, after seven prickly months in the ‘Covid-doldrums,’ the government on September 20 lifted the ban on contact sports including football, paving way for return of the Ghana Premier League (GPL).
As a safety measure, we were told fans were not going to be allowed to attend training sessions of their pet clubs. So far, that directive has been rudely flouted as fans have stormed club’s training grounds in their good numbers with government looking on, totally befuddled.
Per the directive, too, the stadia will be open to fans when the top flight commences, but only up to 25 per cent of a facility’s capacity. It would really be interesting to see how that order is stuck when it comes to the ‘Himalayan’ clash between sworn rivals – Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak.
These are issues that we ought to be profoundly concerned about as the league resumes next week; for we as a nation, cannot afford to roll back the clock of progress chalked in the fight against Covid-19. Truth is that, we are still in the woods and must not play games with the fatal epidemic that has claimed tens of thousands of lives across the world.
Having said that, it is admirable how the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has worked towards the resumption of the domestic game.
We have seen a lot of measures put in place by the FA including the COVID-19 testing of players and technical teams of Premier League clubs that started last week. Indeed, the testing of players and officials – a coalition between the GFA and the Government Covid-19 Task Force, according to the FA, is part of efforts being made to ensure that football is played in the safest possible way.
Delectably, we have also seen some refresher courses organised by the FA for the ‘Knights of the Whistle’ and workshop for Match Commissioners, venue media officers among others.
Speaking at one of its workshops, FA General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo, said the work of Match Commissioners was very important to the success of the competitions, hammering profusely on integrity of the game.
“Any Match Official who violates the ethical principles of the Association would be axed from the game under the “No Contact” and “Zero Tolerance for Corruption” Policies of the Association,” he said reassuringly.
That is the way to go.
Perhaps, the most alluring news for the Premier League ahead of the start was the capture of Ghana international Asamoah Gyan by Legon Cities, after signing a one-year contract. Truth is, Gyan – Africa’s top-most scorer in World Cup history, has added a lot of glamour to the premiership.
It is widely reported that he will pocket US$1million over the next four years with his annual returns standing at U$250,000. That is as attention-grabbing as motivating to the nation’s domestic football.
We cannot wait to see him in his famous No. 3 shirt!
PlainTalk With John Vigah
A little over six weeks ago, everything pointed to a Medeama SC coronation as 2025/26 Ghana Premier League (GPL) champions at the end of the season.
That sounds premature, considering the fact that there were close to about 15 matches before the curtain was drawn on the competition.
However, believers of that assumption were right with that call due to Medeama’s form and doughty-character.
Medeama has been fearless this season. They have been ruthless, sharp, composed and a very formidable opposition, dealing with what their opponents throw at them.
In fact, establishing a 17-game unbeaten run speaks volumes of the quality Medeama has shown this season.
Two people have been key in this transformational story – Coach Ibrahim Tanko and playmaker, Salim Adams.
As of Week 21, Medeama SC opened a yawning seven-point gap with 43 points, leading Aduana FC, Hearts of Oak and Gold Stars, all with 36 points without any indication of slowing down.
But the story has completely changed just four matches after, with Medeama currently occupying the top spot with a slim one point.
Worse of all is the failure to record a win in their last five games in the competition, surviving at the top with unfavourable results of their closest competitors.
That winless run has seen Medeama drawn in three games against Samartex FC, Aduana FC and Swedru All Blacks, and lost to Nations FC and Hohoe United.
The nature of the defeat to Hohoe United generated controversy among those who won’t accept that a penalty miss and an erratic clearance by goalkeeper Felix Kyei that gifted the Voltarians the winning goal were genuine errors.
Their recent falters should have been pleasant opportunities for second-placed Gold Stars, and Hearts of Oak to capture reins at the top, but strangely, they suffered challenges of their own; leaving Medeama hanging at the top.
These dynamics are beginning to paint a positive picture for the competition as clubs at the top fight for more points to take pole positions, wrest with strugglers who are also battling hard for survival.
Outside of the top three, with chances of assuming the top spot if the Medeama form does not see any improvement, are Karela United and Asante Kotoko.
Despite their struggles, they have an outside chance of joining the battle at the top with nine matches to go.
At this stage of the competition, the pressure will be on Coach Ibrahim Tanko and his Medeama charges. Having ‘bottled’ a seven-point gap to a single point, it is surely theirs to lose.
Tanko, in previous interviews, has parried questions over the pressure on him and the team, but their current predicament leaves much to be desired.
The next two months would witness intense battle at both ends of the table with as many as five clubs having reason to contest for the ultimate, with about the same number set for the late drama to escape the last two slots to join Eleven Wonders, who are the surest bet for demotion.
By Andrew Nortey
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A step closer to glory awaits six Ghana Premier League (GPL) club sides and two Division One clubs as they battle for spots at the semi-finals stage of the 2025-26 MTN FA Cup this weekend at the Cape Coast Stadium and the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem.
Dreams FC, the 2022-2023 champions, will clash with Heart of Lions in the quarter-finals at the Cape Coast Stadium tomorrow at pm.
Heart of Lions are going through a difficult spell in the league, having lost ground on their title aspirations that started brightly.
Dreams FC thrashed Lions 3-0 in the reverse fixture of the GPL game in January after losing 1-0 in the first round tie, and tomorrow’s game comes in to settle the scores between the two sides this season.
Although struggling, Lions lie two places above Dreams’ 12th position on the league log and will look to take that inspiration into the game.
The day’s other game will see two-time champions Medeama SC battle Access Bank Division One League (DOL) Zone Three side Attram De Visser at the same venue at 7pm.
The GPL leaders Medeama SC are in the chase for a double this season and will chase a win to appease their fans.
After defeating Asante Kotoko 4-2 on penalties in the Round of 16, Aduana FC will seek to account for Access Bank DOL Zone One B campaigners, Techiman Liberty Youth, today.
Aduana FC are in the hunt for a double this season as they are currently third on the GPL table, trailing leaders Medeama SC with five points.
Having been decisive in matches against Nsuatre FC, Victory Club Warriors and Real Tamale United to get this far, the best in the annals of the club’s history, coach Ezekiel Nii Yeboah of Liberty Youth would be out to cause an upset.
At the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem tomorrow, another interesting pairing is set to play out as the all-Premier League affair between Nations FC and Berekum Chelsea takes centre stage.
By Raymond Ackumey
