FootyDream

Returnees Bofoakwa Tano will lock horns with Hearts of Oak at the Sunyani Coronation Park on Saturday after picking 4 points from their first two matches. Bofoawka grabbed a well-deserved point in their season opener against Accra Great Olympics (0-0) before an imperious 2-1 win over Real Tamale United – their first Premier League home win in 16 years.

Bofoakwa Tano are among the four clubs who have yet to lose a game in two opening games of the season – and would aim for the points against Accra Hearts of Oak who faltered in their last game on the road.

Bofoakwa Tano have not beaten Accra Hearts of Oak since 1995 – a record that stretches back to the Premier League era in 1993/94 – going 18 games without a win against the Phobians.

Hearts of Oak have played against seven newly promoted sides in away encounters since the 2021/22 season and have won four, lost two and drawn one.

The Phobians recorded a 3-0 victory against Accra Lions, beat Gold Stars 1-0 in Bibiani and drew 0-0 with Real Tamale United in the 2021/22 season. In the 2022/23 season, Hearts of Oak beat Kotoku Royals 1-0 in Cape Coast 1-0, managed a 1-0 win against Nsoatreman FC 1-0, capitulated 4-1 against Tamale City 4-1 before falling to FC Samartex 3-2 at Sameraboi.

The Phobians are on a rebuilding exercise after their disappointing outing last season – resulted in the signing of about 10 new players to augment the squad. The likes of Samuel Inkoom, Gladson Awako, Konadu Yiadom, Yassan Ouatching, Clinton Appiah, Zakaria Yakubu, Hamza Mohammed and Benjamin Yorke have all left the club.

They head into Saturday’s game against a side that has been nothing but near perfect in their opening matches of the campaign. Coach Frimpong Manso’s Bofoakwa Tano have won one and drawn one in the league – scoring two goals and conceding 1 in the process.

Top marksman Saaka Dauda, Elijah Addai, Najib Fusieni, Clement Ansah, Ali Alhassan, Emmanuel Ankrah and Kelvin Oppong are all available for selection as Frimpong Manso aims for a second successive home win to break the 18 game hoodoo against Hearts of Oak.

Hearts of Oak are winless in their last 11 away games in the League – having suffered 8 defeats and recorded 3 draws – with a total of 4 goals scored and 16 conceded.

Ramos Kashala Wanet who scored their first goal of the season against Nsoatreman FC on Sunday, will lead the lines for Martin Koopman’s side. Midfielder Abdul Aziz Nurudeen who missed the whole of last season due to meniscus injury is back in the squad – looking to impress the fans.

New signings Kelvin Osei Asibey, Martin Karikari, Evans Adomako, Kofi Agbesimah are expected to compliment the likes of Denis Korsah, Salifu Ibrahim, Amankwah Baafi and Kojo Obeng Junior.

The game will be broadcast live on StarTimes Adepa channel 247 at 3pm on Saturday, September 30, 2023.

Accra Lions continued their unbeaten start to the season with another impressive point on the road after holding Berekum Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at the Golden City Park. 

Bernard Kesse’s first half strike was cancelled by Mezack Afriyie as Lions secured their first-ever point in Berekum.

Having lost in back-to-back visits to Berekum, the Accra-based club got off to a bright start after breaking the deadlock just ten minutes into the game.

Kesse finished a brilliant move from the visitors, after pouncing on a Fredrick Asante header, before weaving his way through two players, striking past Gregory Sekyere in the Chelsea post.

The host started to mount pressure on Accra Lions as they chased an equalizer but Samuel Gyimah and Ali Mohammed were resolute in defence.

After the break, Lions kept their composure as they kept the ball very well, spreading passes from right to left.

However, Chelsea found the equalizer following scrappy defending from Lions, with Mohammed’s poor clearance falling to Afriyie, who made no mistake in the box.

Lions quickly regrouped as they started to chase a winner while maintaining their defensive solidity.

The draw keeps Accra Lions top of the table, albeit momentarily as the rest of the games for the week are yet to be played.

Accra Lions will next host Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko in Accra while Berekum Chelsea travel to Dormaa to face Aduana Stars.

The betPawa Premier League enters Matchday 3 this weekend with two games put on hold due to the CAF Inter Club competitions. Champions Medeama SC and FA Cup holders Drams FC have travelled to Guinea and Liberia – in search of a spot in the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League League and Confederation Cup. Both sides are one step away from making an historic group stage appearance in the Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively.

The betPawa Premier League games begin on Friday, September 29 at the Golden City Park in Berekum where Chelsea takes on Accra Lions. The hosts – Berekum Chelsea are raring for their second win of the campaign after losing 3-1 to Karela United at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium on Matchday two. The Barberries come up against an Accra Lions side that has yet to lose a game in the ongoing season.

Accra Lions are among the four unbeaten sides in the league after drawing 2-2 against Medeama SC in the season opener and beaten Legon Cities 1-0 at home. The draw against Medeama SC at Akoon Park was their first away point in Tarkwa following two successive defeats in two visits to Tarkwa.

Berekum Chelsea sit in 7th place in the table with three points after two games with forward – Stephen Amankona leading the top scorers chart with three goals.

Accra Lions are 1st in the table with 4 points having won one and drawn one in their opening two games of the campaign.

Berekum Chelsea have an outstanding record against Accra Lions having scored 7 and conceded 1 in their last two encounters at Golden City Park. Berekum Chelsea defeated Accra Lions 3-1 in the 2021/22 season and silenced them 4-0 in the 2022/23 season.

Former Asante Kotoko forward Stephen Amankonah has scored 3 goals in two games and is currently the brightest spot in the team going into the game.

The pacy striker who had a torrid stint at Asante Kotoko has rediscovered his scoring boots for the Blues in this season’s League.

Chelsea have lost two of their best players Henry Ansu and Kalou Ouattara to Asante Kotoko but still boats of last season’s 12 goals hero Mizack Afriyie, Fuseini Zackaria winger Collins Ameyaw, Edwin Kuffuor Asamoah, Yaw Dankwa and Awuah Dramani.

Last season’s most promising player Abass Samari Salifu has taken off brilliantly – and looks set to lead the team on Friday.

Others include Goalkeeper Daniel Afful who was named the NASCO player of the match against Legon Cities, Remember Adomako Boateng, David Oduro, Ali Mohammed, Baba Salifu Apiiga and teenager Dominic Amponsah.

The game will be broadcast live on StarTimes Adepa channel 247 on Friday at 3pm.