Sports
Hearts, Kotoko, Oly, Karela poised for second round action
After close to a month’s break, the Ghana Premier League (GPL) will resume tomorrow with other thrilling fixtures across the venues taking place at the weekend.
Tomorrow’s encounter will see second-placed Accra Great Olympics, led by star player and captain, Gladson Awako, welcome Medeama SC to the Accra stadium, expecting to garner the maximum points
On Sunday, third-placed Hearts of Oak will play host to seventh-placed Aduana Stars at the Accra Sports Stadium in a late kick-off (6pm). The Phobians crashed 2-0 when they last visited Dormaa in December and will be eager to make amends.
The visitors will have a daunting task as they have also augmented their squad but will also miss the services of dependable centre-back Caleb Amankwah, Paul Aidoo, Justice Anane and a few others.
Kotoko will have a stiff contest when they travel to Techiman on Saturday to face Eleven Wonders. It will be the first test for new gaffer Mariano Barreto who is expected to stir the affairs of the club after agreeing a year-and-half deal with the Porcupine Warriors.
With a game at hand against Bechem United, Kotoko will be eager to begin the second round on a good note as new signings Andy Kumi, Solomon Sarfo Taylor and Brazilian import Michael Vinicius will be hoping to make an impact with the club eager to win the ultimate.
Wonders, on the other hand, will miss the services of talisman Salifu Ibrahim who left to join Hearts before the end of the first round. Coach Ignatius Ofosu and his charges might want to defy all odds to silence the visitors at their home ground.
League leaders Karela United will welcome AshantiGold SC to the CAM Park in a cracking affair as the leaders go all out to continue their fine form against the Miners who dropped from title-contending slot to fall in mid-table position. It will be the first test for Ashgold’s new gaffer Romain Folz, who replaced the ailing Milovan Cirkovic.
At the Theatre of Dreams in Dawu, high-flying Dreams will square off with struggling Inter Allies on Sunday.
Allies will be counting on returnee Gockel Ahortor, and Samuel Armah who had a short spell in Albania and returned to grab his first goal for his side in their 1-2 defeat to Aduana Stars on match day 16 in Dormaa.
King Faisal are ready to prove a point when they welcome WAFA SC to the Nana Agyemang Park in Techiman.
Being the busiest in the just-ended transfer market, the ‘Insha Allah’ boys have added close to 10 players ahead of the second round but will also have Kasim Gokyildiz as the new coach after parting ways with Andy Sinason.
Poor performing Liberty Professionals will travel to the Nana Gyebour Park in Bechem to face Bechem United on Sunday.
At the Ndoum Park in Elmina on Sunday, Sharks will welcome tricky Ebusua Dwarfs in a very cagey encounter.
Two struggling sides: Twelfth-placed Berekum Chelsea will square off with 15th-placed Legon Cities at the Golden City Park.
LINUS SIAW NARTEY
The world over, the FA Cup is noted as a competition that produces winners whose pedigree can always be called into question.
This year in particular when many predicted an all-conquering Arsenal to win the English version of the championship, they were beaten by a struggling Manchester City side to win the trophy.
The season before, a dominant Manchester City side also surprisingly lost to Crystal Palace in a final many expected the east Manchester side to triumph.
The Ghana version of the competition is not spared of the surprises and uncertainties about the competition.
On Sunday at the University of Ghana Stadium, Nations FC walked a path that only defunct Ho Voradep treaded on 34 years ago when they suffered relegation in the 1992 edition but won the FA Cup competition.
Having faced the ignominy of relegation, Nations FC put up a strong fight to beat Dreams FC 5-4 on penalties to win the MTN FA Cup after drawing 1-1 in regulation and extra time.
Joseph Effah put Nations FC ahead in the 31st minute with a composed finish before Abdul Razak Salifu levelled for Dreams FC on the stroke of halftime.
Both sides had good chances in the second half and extra time, but all failed to find the back of the net again until the shoot-outs.
It was not just historic. It is the biggest silverware in their trophy cabinet. Though they would campaign from the lower tier of Ghana football, they would hoist Ghana’s flag in the CAF Confederations Cup competition in the next season.
It was a dramatic and memorable season, leaving huge responsibility on the tiny shoulders of Dr Kwame Kyei’s Nations FC.
The focus is now on the future for the winners considering the financial challenge that comes with participation for the continental championship others to arise regarding the acceptance of their home venue.
While commending the FA Cup committee and MTN Ghana, the headline sponsors, one hopes that corporate sectors consider that difficulty and rush to the aid of the club. Ayekoo, Nations FC.
By Andrew Nortey
Sports
National Teams Ambassador, Asamoah Gyan visits Black Queens training, rallies team ahead of WAFCON
National Teams Ambassador, Asamoah Gyan, paid a visit to the Black Queens during training on Wednesday.
The former Black Stars striker offered words of encouragement as the team continued preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
He congratulated the players and technical team for securing qualification to the continental showpiece and urged the team to remain focused, give their best whenever they step onto the pitch and to continue working hard.
The visit marked one of Gyan’s first engagements with a national team since his appointment as Ambassador for Ghana’s national teams.
He also assured the players of his commitment to supporting and motivating the team as they build towards WAFCON.
Gyan’s presence was warmly received by the players and technical staff, with the football icon sharing his experience and inspiring the squad as well.
The Black Queens are currently in camp in Accra as the team continue preparations under coach Kim Lars Björkegren.
