Sports
Red-eyed Hearts seek Oly revenge
Hearts of Oak’s terrifying form will face a major litmus test tomorrow when they contend with a formidable Great Olympics side in the “Accra derby” – one of six local derbies that will shape fortunes at the Accra Stadium – with six games left. The tie is slated for 6.pm.
The Phobians’ five-game unbeaten run and two points lead at the summit may come under threat in this week 28 league fixtures with coach of the ‘Wonder Club’ Annor Walker declaring he intends to inflict another win over their rivals, after beating them 2-0 in their earlier fixture to revive his own title ambition, which is gradually dissipating with their inconsistent run of results.
Unlike Walker who has thrown down the gauntlet, Hearts boss Samuel Boadu remained tight-lipped and cautious with his approach, only affirming that his side was focused on their title race and “were their own competition.”
Second-placed Asante Kotoko, two points adrift off the league leaders, will face an obsolete Ashantigold side at the Obuasi Len Clay in the Ashanti derby as they aim to mount pressure on Hearts for the title push.
Kotoko, who recorded stalemates in their last three games and relinquishing the top-spot to their arch-rivals, can bounce back against their regional foes who are playing poorly but can spring a surprise playing at their home grounds as the visiting team.
At Sogakope, relegation-threatened Liberty Professionals will play as hosts of WAFA at the dreaded Sogakope Park of the latter. The Academy boys would be wary of the ‘Scientific Soccer lads’ who have quickly turned the venue into their own fortress and have been steadily negotiating their relegation escape from the venue.
In other games, a Brong-Ahafo affair will ensue between Eleven Wonders and Bechem United at the Ohene Ameyaw Stadium, whilst Accra side Legon Cities contend with compatriots bottom-placed Inter Allies who have mustered a new-found confidence to wage war against beating the drop zone at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday.
At Cape Coast, Ebusua Dwarfs will pitch their strength against a rebounding Aduana Stars’ side whilst King Faisal continue their fight against the relegation pit, facing an embattled Berekum Chelsea team at the Golden City Park. Highly-flying Dreams will host a distraught Elmina Sharks team at the Dawu Park.
Preceding tomorrow’s derbies will be the feisty Western derby today at the Akoon Park in Tarkwa where Medeama in a bid to restore their title ambitions, must confront fourth-placed Karela United whose head coach Augustine Adotey has declared their readiness to claim the three points at stake.
BY NANA BENTSI ODURO
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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