Kotoko versus Hearts game to light up Ghana league

The nation’s two most glamorous clubs, Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko would push football fever to an envisaged all high when they clash at the Accra Sports Stadium in Accra in match-day seven of the Glo Premiership on Sunday.

The occupants of the first two positions on the log would engage each other in a game ready to set the tone for the bragging rights in the infant season that has seen the Phobians dropped two points to relinquish the top spot to Kotoko only last week.

Hearts must be enduring torrid centenary festivities having lost two games within the week of their celebrations against Dwarfs, their only loss this season and Enugu Rangers three days on in what was expected to be the climax of events.

The Phobians have been quick to rebuff that the two quick losses could flatten their spirit against a Kotoko side that has scored in every game this season, claiming their focus rests on beating their sworn rivals.

However, whether Hearts are able to walk the talk and push aside the set back that enraged their followers could only be seen when referee Awal Mohammed ushers both into action on Sunday.

On paper, Kotoko appears the better side judging from the quality in personnel that Coach Maxwell Konadu has been able to fashion out in the last few weeks that has seen Ahmed Toure come alive in a manner that has triggered supposed interest by the Ivorian national team handlers.

Games involving the two clubs however do not often follow form guide and records since the mire rivalry that exists between them is often enough a motivation. The last time both teams met in Accra in the famous Super Two, the ‘Porcupine Warriors’ hammered Hearts 3-1, a result that shocked the latter, owning to the fact that a week earlier, Kotoko required a late rally to pick a point in their Kumasi meeting.

The stage without doubt is set for an intriguing meeting that would determine if Hearts can give meaning to their talk of shocking Kotoko in the wake of their sour celebrations to go top of the log or Kotoko would grab all points to maintain their hold on the summit.

Hearts would be without Esme Mends in midfield but the quality exhibited by Moro Abubarkar at the heart of the team could be enough relief against Kotoko’s creative midfielder Daniel Nii Adjei who has supplied balls to the Porcupine Warriors attack without blemish.

In attack, Hearts duo Mahatma Otoo and Uriah Asante seem to have picked up well in time to march the Toure-Nathaniel Asamoah quality and whether the support received so far from Douglas Nkrumah would be enough trouble for Awal Mohhammed in the Kotoko defence would be seen after 90-minutes.

Elsewhere in Tema, Mighty Jets would play host to Wa All Stars in a duel that the visitors are expected to start as favourites. All Stars are fourth on the table with 12 points, seven more than the struggling Tudu-club that has recorded a single win in six outings.

At the Len Clay Stadium, Ashgold would be hoping to turn pure gold for the first time this season when they welcome Tema Youth to Obuasi. Only two points separate the two teams plunged in the lower ranks of the table and a win by any side could mark a good turn in their fortunes in the Premiership journey.

Bottom-placed Bechem United would seek miraculous touch on their return to their home grounds in Bechem when they play host to fast improving Medeama with just a point from their last six games.

Liberty Professionals must have recorded the heaviest results at the expense of Bachem United in their 5-0 drubbing last week, but when they hit the road to Kpando as guest of Heart of Lions, they would be the first to admit that the stakes would be different.

The Golden City Park would host the regional derby involving Berekum Arsenal and Aduana Stars in an expected hot duel.

At the Essipong Stadium, Wassaman United would battle Ebusua Dwarfs whiles at the Gyamfi Park, Edubiase would host defending league champions, Chelsea.

Source: GNA