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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