Sports
Kotoko chase fourth consecutive win …as they face Wonders
Kumasi Asante Kotoko will be eyeing a fourth consecutive win when they square off with Eleven Wonders today in their week-four Ghana Premier League (GPL) fixture at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The Porcupine Warriors started this season’s league on a bright note with some enterprising and result-oriented football, to occupy the summit of the table.
Another win for Kotoko would further cement their position as they had already been tipped as favourites to win the 2021/2022 league.
They also face a side that are yet to find the back of the net in three opening matches with a defeat and two draws to their credit.
Beaming with confidence, Kotoko will go all out to deepen the woes of their opponents as they fancy maximum points to stay ahead of the chasing pack.
Wonders will also be tormented by Kotoko’s wonder kid Isaac Oppong who is gradually taking the league by storm following his impressive performances.
Nicknamed Neymar, the fleet-footed player had scored two goals so far including the strike against Bibiani Gold Stars last Friday to give Kotoko their third consecutive win.
He would be a handful for Eleven Wonders who would attempt to be resolute and get something out of the game.
In another cracker today at Dormaa, Aduana Stars face off with Real Tamale United with the home side chasing their first win of the season.
Aduana managed to clinch a point against Hearts in their last home game and would be hoping to get three maximum points against a very determined RTU side.
Newly-promoted Accra Lions host Bechem United at the Accra Sports Stadium for another interesting encounter.
The round of matches would continue tomorrow with a mouthwatering encounter between AshantiGold and Hearts of Oak at the Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi.
After three consecutive draws, Hearts would be looking forward to their first win against a side with the same interest.
AshantiGold will be hoping to get back to winning ways, and garnering all three points at home against the champions, would be fancied.
A fourth consecutive game without a win looks frustrating for the Phobians and they must go all out to make a statement at Obuasi.
In other games, Accra Great Olympics – who are also enjoying a decent season so far, will be hoping to maintain their run as they face Dreams FC at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
WAFA battle it out with Legon Cities at Sogakope, while Elmina Sharks would play Bibiani Gold Stars at Elmina in another dicey encounter.
BY MICHAEL D. ABAYATEYE
Otto Addo is taking a calm and focused approach to the World Cup after being drawn against England, Panama, and Croatia in Group L.
“I look forward to every game as special,” he told ghanafa.org.
“Very important for us that we don’t underrate any team. For sure, England is the favourite in that group,” he acknowledged. “But for me as a coach, to be honest, I’m looking at each and every game equally.”
Addo is particularly focused on getting a strong start against Panama. “I’m hoping that we have a good start against Panama, that will be very, very crucial,” he said. “It will make the other games a little bit more relaxed and easier for the players psychologically. We will use the window of March for test matches, and then see,” he said.
Despite being a young team, Addo is proud of his squad’s progress. “I think we did very well in the qualifiers ” he said. “We didn’t lose a single official game, like the qualifying games, we did very well. We just played one draw and the rest we won, so we had quite a good year in 2025, after a bad year in 2024’’.
“Even though we have a very young team, we really, really did well, had a good harmony in the team, good union,” he added.
Ghana will open their FIFA World Cup campaign against Panama in Toronto on June 17 before facing England and Croatia in the other Group L matches on June 23 and 27 respectively.
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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