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Hearts battle Kotoko in Accra

The long-standing fierce rivalry between two of Ghana’s most successful teams, Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko will be reignited tomorrow when the two combatants clash at the Accra Sports Stadium in a Ghana Premier League (GPL) Match Week 14 outstanding fixture.

Edgy fans of both sides would look forward to an intriguing ‘Super 2’ clash after the encounter was postponed due to Kotoko’s engagement in continental football competition.

Having failed to qualify to the stage of the Confederations Cup competition, the coast is now clear for both sides to ‘energise’ their respective campaigns to return to Africa club competition by emerging tops in the GPL; and also knowing that a win in the encounter will go a long way to boost their confidence.

Sadly, the clash that would usually attract a mammoth crowd would be played behind closed doors as part of the enforcement of Covid-19 restrictions.

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Despite the troubles in their camp, Hearts appear to have rediscovered their groove, pulling two important wins over Dwarfs and Liberty Professionals to boost their confidence ahead of the tie.

Another win for Hearts, currently sixth on the league table, could hand them a top four place as they look forward to finishing the season as one of the teams at the summit.

The likes of Patrick Razak and the team’s top scorers Victor Aidoo and Kwadjo Obeng Jnr are expected to give Kotoko enough trouble upfront with young forward Isaac Mensah who scored in two consecutive games as a substitute would also be hoping to start for the Phobians to continue his rich scoring form.

However, a ‘wounded’ Kotoko side that crashed out of the CAF Confederation Cup would hope to make amends in the Premier League with a win against their rivals.

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They would go into the game hoping to make their dominance at the Accra Sports Stadium count once again having succeeded in turning their adopted Accra Stadium grounds into a waterloo for visiting sides in recent years.

Since 2006, Kotoko have won six of their 12 encounters with Hearts who have been victorious on four occasions and two of the games ending in a draw.

Kotoko’s last victory against the homes side was in January 2020 before the pandemic where they won 2-1 to add to the Phobian’s frustration in Accra.

The Porcupine Warriors would also count on the likes of Fabio Gama, Sulley Muniru and Habib Mohammed to lead a formidable guard to counter the threats from their rivals.

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It would be a defining encounter for both teams who are desperate to clinch the three points following a topsy-turvy season so far.

BY MICHAEL D. ABAYATEYE

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 GoldStars GPL feat no fluke

Bibiani GoldStars celebrate their title triumph last Sunday
Bibiani GoldStars celebrate their title triumph last Sunday

 No prophet in Ghana would have been taken serious with prophesies of Bibiani GoldStars becoming the new champions of the 2024/25 Ghana Premier League (GPL).

That is not to take anything away from Coach Frimpong Manso, an Asante Kotoko legend, and his boys for the yeoman’s job they did in the just ended season.

They deserve every bit of the plaudits coming from well-wishers.

They came, they saw and conquered on their fourth year (2021/2022 season) in the elite stage of Ghana football.

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Of course, this can only be a reality in the end but not a sound prediction at the start of the season.

But, so has it been. Stories like that of GoldStars sharply brings to mind a similar fairytale orchestrated in the advanced English Premier League (GPL) with the 2015/16 edition.

In the face of the Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool dominance, Leicester emerged with a bang, conquering every hurdle in sight with unsung heroes like Jamie Vardy, Wilfred Ndidi, Shinji Okazaki, Leonardo Ulloa, Danny Drinkwater, Robert Huth, Riyad Mahrez and others.

There was no indication of that sort at the start of the season.

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As usual, the focus was on the aforementioned heavyweights but Leicester took the competition by storm to record a historic win.

Back home, the GoldStars story is not different. Despite the recent struggles by perennial favourites, Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko, the two have always found their ways in fans prediction regarding the side to emerge winners.

Interestingly, both sides just managed to end up in the top four after Nations FC’s decision to abandon a game against Basake Holy Stars who cost them dearly, in the end, forfeiting the said game and going ahead to suffer a further three points deduction penalty.

Nations FC were actually the top favourites for the title until that ill-fated match against Basake Holy Stars.

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Campaigning for the second year in the competition, very few followers of the game gave the Timber giants any chance.

But in the same ‘Rambo’ style, teams like Medeama SC and Aduana Stars descended on the GPL, GoldStars emerged with all guns blazing, strategically employing a tactic of making the Dun’s Park in Bibiani, a waterloo for visiting teams.

On a few occasions, they sprung surprises on the journey, recording a few upsets against gullible teams including Hearts of Oak in Accra.

They had a promising coach like Frimpong Manso who is yet to establish himself among the elites local coaches maybe because he is yet to work with any of the established club sides in the country.

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But winning the local competition with a less endowed club makes you a legend, and truly, he has become one.

To management and other members of the technical team, one could only congratulate them for a job well executed.

The players have a huge role to play in proving that the feat was no fluke and that GoldStars has come to stay; and would continue to make an impact in the local game.

Much is not known about these players except Vincent Atinga who plied his trade with Hearts of Oak and Medeama SC. Others like Samuel Attah Kumi, Frank Amankwah, Kelvin Oppong, Charles Gyamfi Kamara, Abdul Farouk Amoaful, Gideon Anaba, Samuel Acheampong, Foster Agyei and Yakubu Haqq remain emerging talents aiming to carve a niche for themselves.

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Definitely with the new challenge, some areas of the team would be strengthened as they face the finest sides on the continent.

Another season with a new champion should also serve as a wake-up call for the likes of Hearts or Oak and Asante Kotoko to quickly return to their glory days lest they lose their enviable place among the football elite clubs. Well-done GoldStars.

 By Andrew Nortey

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 Golden Kick, a tricky obstacle for Kotoko in MTN FA Cup final tomorrow

Abdul Karim Zito-Kotoko
Abdul Karim Zito-Kotoko

 The University of Ghana Stadium will come alive tomorrow when Ghanaian giants, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, take on lower tier side, Golden Kicks FC, in a thrilling climax to the 2024/25 MTN FA Cup final tomorrow at exactly 5pm.

The much anticipated game, which is more than just a battle for silverware but a meeting of tradition and ambition for both teams, is expected to draw thousands of football fanatics across the country to the Legon stadium for what promises to be a dramatic and tricky finale to this season’s domestic cup competition.

Fiifi Parker Hanson – Golden Kick SC

After an unsuccessful season in the Ghana Premier League which saw the Reds miss out on the title to Bibiani GoldStars, the Porcupine Warriors will be desperate to finish the season on a high by clinching the title to secure a place in the next CAF interclub competition.

The Reds have a rich history in the FA Cup competition having won it nine times and will be eyeing their 10th title to stamp their authority as the overall best.

Before reaching this stage, Asante Kotoko eliminated formidable opponents like True Democracy, Sekondi Eleven Wise and Berekum Chelsea in the semi-final.

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The availability of players like Justice Blay, Kwame Opoku, Frederick Asare, Peter Amidu Acquah and striker Albert Amoah, among other notable players will be a big boost to Coach Karim Zito’s side.

Abdul Karim Zito-Kotoko

Meanwhile, the task will not be an easy one for Kotoko looking at the way their opponents reached the final with wins over Accra Hearts of Oak and Bechem United before climaxing it with Attram d’ Visser.

Coached by young and tactical Fiifi Parker Hanson, Golden Kicks have a combined youthful team with tactical discipline to punch well above their weight and relish the opportunity to shock the giants once more on a bigger stage.

This final is more than just a contest between Premier League royalty and a hungry underdog but rather a tale of two contrasting football identities. Kotoko brings the weight of tradition, experience, legacy and pressure while Golden Kicks arrive with nothing to lose and everything to prove which makes the game a promised one, full of thrills and fireworks.

 By Enoch Ntiamoah

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