Sports
Hearts target another win …as Kotoko eager to bounce back
Hearts of Oak will be chasing a second straight victory when they host Accra Lions in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) match-day 9 fixture at the Accra Sports Stadium tomorrow.
The Phobians scaled pass Elmina Sharks 1-0 on match day 8 with Gladson Awako guaranteeing the much-needed result with a thunderbolt to hand the Rainbow lads their first triumph after a disappointing three draws and a defeat in their four games played.
Notwithstanding their abysmal output in the continental campaign, Hearts will be poised to continue on a high note to bring back smiles to their teaming fans who most even called for the head of the coach and some under-performing players.
The return of Awako could bring back the missing spark in the heart of midfield as they aim to grind more results.
However, action in the GPL continues on Sunday when Asante Kotoko make a trip to the capital to face Legon Cities at the El-Wak Sports Stadium.
The Porcupine Warriors were held to a 1-1 stalemate by Real Tamale United (RTU) in mid-week at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Cameroonian forward Mfegue George’s early strike was cancelled by RTU’s David Abagna Sandan late effort to deny Kotoko their fifth victory.
With pressure gradually looming on Coach Prosper Ogum, Legon Cities will be aiming to take the bull by the horn to deepen the woes of Kotoko who are without a win in their last two outings.
At the Nana Agyeman Badu I Park in Dormaa tomorrow, imposing Aduana Stars take on Berekum Chelsea, in a dicey clash. With another win in their bag against Ashgold SC in Obuasi, the ‘Ogya boys’ would have one more chance to avert their home frustration to appease their fans, having lost 2-0 to King Faisal in their season’s opener.
Struggling Eleven Wonders will square off with Bibiani Gold Stars at the Ohene Ameyaw Park in Techiman tomorrow.
Sitting a place above West African Soccer Academy (WAFA) in relegation zone, Wonders could use this test to grab their second win in nine games while Gold Stars will be eager to bounce back from their 2-0 away loss to Great Olympics.
At the Crosby Awuah Memorial Park in Aiyinase, Karela United will lock horns with fifth-placed Bechem United tomorrow. The home team picked up a disappointing 3-1 away defeat to Dreams, while the visitors managed a narrow 1-0 win over Eleven Wonders.
Karela United will host Bechem United at Crosby Awuah Memorial Park in Aiyinase.
The hosts will be keen to bounce back from their 3-1 away defeat to Dreams in mid-week, while the visitors will aim for another victory.
At the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium on Sunday, RTU will welcome Elmina Sharks. Bottom-placed WAFA will host impressive Medeama SC at the Sogakope Red Bull Arena.
With a single win in the ongoing campaign, WAFA will have to go all out for a victory and make amends after their 2-0 defeat to Berekum Chelsea.
Action continues on Monday when Ashantigold SC take on Great Olympics in a tricky clash at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium. Olympics could add more misery on Ashgold after the Miners’ painful 1-0 defeat at home to Aduana Stars.
All eyes will he embossed on King Faisal’s Zubeiru Ibrahim when the ‘Insha Allah’ lads take on Fatawu Issahaku’s Dreams FC on Tuesday at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. It is a great opportunity for the two mega-kids to showcase their class and pedigree on the local scene.
BY LINUS SIAW NARTEY
The unbeaten away run of Accra Hearts of Oak will be put to the test tomorrow when they visit the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale to play as guests of Karela United. Described as one of the top-liners of the weekend games, the match will pitch one of the best home teams against the best away team, with their records on the line.
After playing a pulsating 2-2 draw with Kumasi Asante Kotoko last week, league leaders Medeama SC return to their fortress, the TnA Stadium, to welcome Berekum Chelsea FC in a clash of former league winners. Medeama have struggled in recent times to hold their own against the ‘Bibires’, losing their last four games both home and away.
However, according to Head Coach of Medeama, Tanko Ibrahim, that sequence of results will come to an end tomorrow as they look to crawl out of the claws of their opponents with victory. Eleven points separate the sides, with Berekum Chelsea lying a distant 14th position on the log. They have been a pale shadow of themselves this season, and it remains to be seen if Coach Samuel Boadu’s side can keep the bragging rights over the Yellow and Mauves in what has been described as one of their worse starts to a league season.
Today, second-placed Kpando Heart of Lions will trek to the Kwame Kyei Sports Complex in Abrankese to play as guests of struggling Nations FC. Having suffered a 1-0 away loss to Basake Holy Stars in their last game, Nations FC would look to pick all three points to better their current 12th position.
In other games, the Hohoe Sports Stadium will come alive as new boys Hohoe United FC welcome Kumasi Asante Kotoko. The Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex in Tema will host the Vision FC versus Young Apostles FC game, the Tuba Astro Turf will host the Dreams FC versus Bechem United FC clash, while the Nsenkyire Sports Arena will host the Samartex FC versus Bibiani Gold Stars game. High-riding Aduana FC will sort things out with Basake Holy Stars at the Nana Agyeman Badu I Park in Dormaa.
By Raymond Ackumey
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When the international friendly match between Ghana’s Black Queens and the Lionesses of England was announced, it was received with mixed feelings. For the faint-hearted, lining up such a high-profile friendly against the European champions was an audacious move. Fans who aligned with this school of thought were guided by what has earned a place in Ghana’s football history as the ‘Bochum Disaster,’ recorded on April 14, 1993.
It was a disaster, although there was no loss of life. On that cold evening in Bochum, the Black Stars suffered a 6-1 humiliation from the German national team in an international friendly. It came as a shock to soccer fans across the globe, coming just a year after Abedi Ayew Pele skippered the Black Stars to dominate the continent, culminating in an AFCON final in the 1992 edition held in Senegal. In a final against the Elephants of La Cote d’Ivoire, the game went to extra time, with the eventual winner decided after a marathon penalty shoot-out. Ghana’s strength on the continent at the time was considered second best.
Fast forward to April, Ghana faced Germany again, needing a high-profile friendly to commence USA ‘94 World Cup qualifying. What followed was a battering that no follower of the team would want to remember—a 6-1 defeat for the team that had previously brought honour to the nation. Guided by this history, nervous fans had reason to doubt the Black Queens’ ability to share the field with the European champions, currently the top-ranked female team in the world, and come out unscathed.
However, there were fans who remained optimistic that the Black Queens would perform well. Despite losing the game 2-0, fans expressed satisfaction with the team’s overall performance, as many had anticipated a worse outcome than the Bochum disaster. The English coach had changed the team that had thrashed China 8-0 just four days earlier, which gave some hope to Ghana supporters.
The Black Queens defended well for 90 minutes, aided by some profligacy from the English in front of goal and an excellent performance from Ghana’s goalkeeper, Cynthia Konlan Findib. England captain Alessia Russo praised Ghana’s performance, stating, “Ghana provided the type of test we wanted… We want to test ourselves against different playing styles, and we definitely got that tonight.”
Despite the defeat, the match proved to be a valuable exercise for the team as they prepare for the next AFCON. It highlighted improvements in both the playing staff and the technical direction of the team. Coach Kim Lars scored full marks for knowing the strengths of his team and adopting strategies they were comfortable with. While some fans disapproved of the defensive approach, as long as it proves effective, it must be encouraged to achieve results rather than merely entertain the crowd.
By Andrew Nortey
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