Sports
Kotoko Host Heart of Lions Today
Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Kpando Heart of Lions will lock horns in a Ghana Premier League Matchday 21 clash at the Baba Yara Stadium today.
Heart of Lions, who occupied second place earlier in the season, have since dropped down the table and now sit seventh, having been overtaken by Kotoko.
Both teams head into the encounter on the back of contrasting results. Kotoko recorded an emphatic 3-0 victory over Basake Holy Stars, while the Lions suffered a narrow 1-0 away defeat to Bechem United.
The last meeting between the two sides at the Baba Yara Stadium ended in a pulsating goalless draw. However, ahead of today’s fixture, Kotoko head coach Karim Zito is confident his side will claim all three points.
His counterpart, Coach Bashir Hayford, has remained tight-lipped, preferring to keep his cards close to his chest.
Meanwhile, defending league champions Bibiani Gold Stars, who fell 2-0 to Aduana FC at the Golden City Park in Berekum last week, will return to Dun’s Park to host returnees Swedru All Blacks in what locals have described as a must-win encounter.
Gold Stars have dropped from second to fifth place following recent results, and head coach Fritz Markus Schmid is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to drag the team back into the title race.
The experienced Swiss tactician is fully aware of how “slippery” the ‘Ozii, Ozaa!’ lads can be and insists his side will not underrate them ahead of kick-off.
The match will mark the first outing for Swedru All Blacks’ newly appointed head coach, Kasim Mingle, with the Swedru lads banking on his wealth of experience to help them remain competitive.
At the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park tomorrow, it will be a clash of former champions as Aduana FC host FC Samartex 1996 in what promises to be a thrilling contest.
Separated by just a point on the league table, Aduana FC’s Romanian coach, Cioba Aristica, has vowed to exact revenge for their 1-0 first-round defeat as his side seeks to keep the pressure on league leaders Medeama SC.
According to Aristica, any slip-up in the encounter could derail Aduana’s title ambitions.
Elsewhere, Hearts of Oak will welcome Bechem United at the University of Ghana Stadium, while Vision FC face Dreams FC at the Nii Adjei Kraku Stadium in Tema.
The Wenchi Stadium will host the clash between bottom-placed Eleven Wonders and Young Apostles, while the Aliu Mahama Stadium will stage the “Clash of the Uniteds” between Karela United and Hohoe United.
At the Awuale Amihere Kpanyinli III Sports Arena in Ampain, Nzema, Basake Holy Stars will battle Berekum Chelsea to round off the Matchday 21 fixtures.
By Raymond Ackumey
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Officials from the Ghana mission in the United Arab Emirates have paid a morale-boosting visit to the camp of the Black Queens.
The delegation, made up of Consular Officer Percy Okudzeto, Consul and Head of Chancery Abdul-Jalil Sigli Yakubu Abdulai and Head of Transport Anas Shaibu, visited the team to assure them of the government’s support and commitment to their safety and welfare.
During the visit, the officials interacted with the team and offered words of encouragement, urging the team to remain focused on the tournament despite concerns surrounding unrest in parts of the UAE.
Consular Officer Percy Okudzeto emphasised that the Ghanaian government, through its diplomatic mission, is closely monitoring the situation and is committed to ensuring the team’s safety throughout their stay.
“We want the team to stay calm and focus on the competition. The government and the embassy are doing everything possible to ensure your safety and well-being.” he said.
Consul and Head of Chancery Abdul-Jalil Sigli Yakubu Abdulai also reiterated the mission’s readiness to provide any assistance required by the team during the tournament.
Leadership of the team expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as timely and motivating.
With the backing of Ghana’s diplomatic officials in the UAE, the Black Queens remain determined to represent the country proudly and deliver strong performances in the Pink Ladies Cup.
The Black Queens have arrived in the United Arab Emirates to participate in the upcoming Pink Ladies Cup in Dubai. The team touched down at the Dubai International Airport via Emirates Air on Wednesday morning and were warmly received by the competition’s organising officials.
The squad will be based at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, where they will begin their final preparations for the tournament. Organised as part of the international women’s football calendar, the Pink Ladies Cup is expected to feature four national sides using the competition to assess their squads and fine-tune strategies for upcoming tournaments.
Ghana will open their campaign today with a clash against Hong Kong, while Russia and Tanzania face off in the other opening match.
The Black Queens are then scheduled to return to action on March 3, when they take on Russia in a match expected to test them against a physically strong opponent.
The final round of games will be played on March 6, with Ghana closing their campaign against Tanzania at 9:00 pm.
With three matches in eight days, the tournament promises to be a crucial phase in Ghana’s preparation, as the Black Queens aim to return to continental action sharper, stronger, and more competitive.
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