FootyDream

Hearts of Oak are gearing up for a crucial match against Bechem United in the Ahafo Region on Saturday afternoon, with hopes of cementing their position on the league table.

The team’s victory over Nsoatreman FC in the previous weekend has given them momentum and they are eager to continue their winning streak against the Hunters at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park.

Although Yassan Ouatching and Richmond Ayi will be absent, Hearts of Oak will rely on the skills of Linda Mtange, Amankwaa Baafi, Salifu Ibrahim, Jeordon Otanga, Robert Addo Sowah, Konadu Yiadom, Samuel Inkoom, and other players to secure the crucial three points.

Furthermore, Caleb Amankwah and Richard Attah, who missed the last game, are back in the squad for this trip. Unfortunately, Gladson Awako will remain out of action as he prepares for upcoming fixtures.

Check the full squad below:

GOALKEEPERS

Richard Attah

Nana Yeboah Benjamin

Eric Ofori Antwi GK

DEFENDERS:

Dennis Korsah

Konadu Yiadom

Caleb Amankwah

Robert Addo Sowah

Amankwaa Baafi

Samuel Inkoom

Zakari Yakubu

Kwabena Anane

MIDFIELDERS:

Eric Esso

Jeordan Otanga

Don Linda Mtange

Faisal Adams

Enock Asuboteng

Gideon Asante Dinho

Salifu Ibrahim

ATTACKERS:

Benjamin Yorke

Isaac Mensah

Albert Diego Eonde

Victor Aidoo

Obeng Junior

In a Week 27 encounter of the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League campaign, Accra Lions put an end to their five-game winless streak by defeating Medeama SC 4-2 at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday afternoon.

Young striker Bassit Seidu scored two goals in the 8th and 33rd minutes to give Accra Lions a comfortable lead going into halftime. However, Medeama SC fought back strongly in the second half and equalized with two penalty kicks from Vincent Atinga.

With the game tied at 2-2, Accra Lions put in a fantastic performance in the last 20 minutes of the match, which resulted in two more goals from Bassit Seidu, securing the team’s 4-2 victory.

The win moved Accra Lions up to 4th on the Ghana Premier League table, while Medeama SC remained in second place until the other games in Round 27 are played.

James Kwasi Appiah, the former coach of the Black Stars, has confirmed that he has been in discussions with Asante Kotoko regarding the club’s vacant coaching position.

Earlier reports indicated that the Porcupine Warriors had approved the appointment of their former captain as their new head coach. Following the sacking of Seydou Zerbo, Asante Kotoko is currently being led by interim coach Abdulai Gazale.

Kwasi Appiah has now verified the news in an interview with Kumasi-based Pure FM, stating that he is eager to come aboard and assist.

The club legend mentioned that he has spoken with Kotoko for the past few months but had to put things on hold due to receiving two other offers.

He further stated that he cannot demand the new head coach role without the CEO’s approval.

“Asante Kotoko has a CEO (Nana Yaw Amponsah) and I can’t go to Manhyia and demand that I should be named the new head coach without the knowledge of the CEO,” Kwesi Appiah, who is also a club legend told Kumasi-based Pure FM.

“I played Asante Kotoko for years and I have been in and out of the club. If there is any assistance I am willing to do that.

“For the past months, I have held talks with Kotoko but I told them to hold on because I received two offers but let us see what happens,” he added.

James Kwasi Appiah was an essential member of the Asante Kotoko squad that won the 1983 CAF Champions League.

Defending champions of the betPawa Premier League, Asante Kotoko will lock horns with league leaders Aduana FC at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium at 6pm on Sunday.

Both sides boast of one win in their last five matches with the other three ending in a draw. Asante Kotoko are yet to win against Aduana FC in their last two home games – (2020-21 Asante Kotoko 0-1 Aduana FC, 2021-22 Asante Kotoko 1-1 Aduana FC).

The Porcupine Warriors sit in 5^th place with 39 points having won one, drawn two and lost two in their last five matches whiles league leaders Aduana FC have won twice in their last five matches drawing two and losing two.

The Reds come into this game fresh from a 3-0 loss to Berekum Chelsea at the Golden City Park with Aduana FC needing a Frank Owusu goal to beat Accra Great Olympics 1-0 at the Nana Agyemang Badu Park at Dormaa.

Asante Kotoko have been boosted by the return of Richard Boadu from suspension. Dickson Afoakwa, Yussif Mubarik and Rashid Nortey are also back in the side after recovering from injuries.

Coach Abdulai Gazale is expected to parade a strong side against the Ogya lads with the likes of Richmond Lamptey, the club’s top scorer Steven Mukwala Desse (10 goals), Enoch Morrison, Mohammed Alhassan, Rocky Dwamena, Isaac Oppong and George Mfegue and gunning for a starting place.

Former Asante Kotoko players Emmanuel Gyamfi and Kwame Adom Frimpong will aim to impress their former employers when given the chance on Sunday. The two-time champions also boast of quality players like Isaac Mintah, Alex Boakye, Frank Owusu, Richard Danso and inform Joseph Addo.

The match will be broadcast live on StarTimes Adepa channel 247 at 6pm.

Accra Lions and Medeama SC will square off at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday as both sides aim for a win to improve their placing in the League standings. The Tarkwa lads who are on a good run will be looking for the double against their host after beaten them 2-0 in the first round of the season.

Lions are currently on a patchy run having lost five, won two and drawn two in the second round of the campaign whilst Medeama SC boast of six wins, two draws and one loss in the second round.

The two-time MTN FA cup champions are 2^nd in the League table with 44 points, three points behind leaders Aduana FC and six points ahead of Accra Lions.

Their head coach Augustine Evans Adotey was named NASCO coach of the month for March after guiding them to four wins, one draw and loss in the month of March and taking them from mid-table to the second position. Adotey who took over from Umar Abdul Rabi returns to the capital to play against one of the best sides in the League.

Shot stopper Felix Kyei who joined the side from Accra will be facing his former employers for the first time since his move in the summer has been very impressive leading to his award as the goalkeeper of the month for March.

Accra Lions are winless in their last five matches, following four defeats, and one draw as they have dropped to the 7^th spot with 38 points.

Accra Lions have won only once at the Accra Sports stadium in the second round with their last home game ending in a 1-0 loss to King Faisal. They are winless in three meetings against Medeama SC as the mauves and yellows have won two of their last three games against Accra Lions since the 2021-22 season.

Club top scorer Vincent Atinga (7 goals), Abdul Fatawu Hamidu,  the evergreen Theophilus Anoba, Kwasi Donsu, Joshua Agyemang and Jonathan Sowah are all available for selection.

For Accra Lions, Coach Ibrahim Tanko is expected to parade top scorer Abass Samari Saifu (9 goals), Dominic Nsobila, Richmond Sackey, David Oduro and Daniel Kwame Aweuni.

The game will be broadcast live on StarTimes Adepa channel 247.

Bechem United will clash with Hearts of Oak at the Nana Fosu Gyaebour Park on Saturday as battle for the title rumbles on. Their Hunters defeated the Phobians 2-1 in the first round of the season.

Hearts of Oak have won two of their last five matches with two ending in a draw whiles Bechem United have won once – but the home team are yet to record a win against Hearts of Oak at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in their last two meetings.

Accra Hearts of Oak have managed to score one goal at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in their last two matches – (Bechem 0-1 Hearts of Oak, Bechem 1-1 Hearts of Oak).

Kasim Mingle’s side have scored 34 goals – the highest tally of goals in the league and amassed 41 points. The Hunters sit in 4^th place with two wins, two draws and one defeat whilst the Phobians have 42 points and sit in 3^rd place with three wins, one draw and one defeat in their last five matches.

Top scorer of the League Hafiz Wontah Konkoni (12 goals) is available to start for Bechem United with the likes of Kofi Agbesimah, Isaiah Nyarko, Aaron Essel and Clinton Duodu all gunning for a place in the starting lineup.

Accra Hearts of Oak have been unimpressive on the road in this campaign having won four, drawn two and lost three in this campaign. Enterprising Linda Mtange, Eric Eso, Suraj Seidu, Robert Addo Sowah, Enock Asubonteng, and youngster Yaw Amankwah Baafi are all available to start for Hearts of Oak.

Captain Gladson Awako is still unavailable despite returning from a long injury lay off that has kept him out for almost two months.

Bechem United have lost only one home match this season and knows that nothing short of victory will boost their title hunt and a top four finish. The Hunters, who threw away a two goal lead to lose 3-2 to Tamale City last weekend, are fired up for the three points as they aim to appease their fans and boost their title charge.

The game will be broadcast live on StarTimes Adepa channel 247

Accra Great Olympics will aim for the points as they return to the WAFA Park at Sogakope to play against Tamale City. The Accra based team have moved their home venue to Sogakope for the remaining matches of the season. Tamale City won the first leg 2-1 with Raphael Essien and Sampson Eduku scoring whiles Offei Ofori Gideon scored for the Dade boys.

At Nsoatre – Nsoatreman FC will clash with the resurgent King Faisal at home after losing 2-1 to Hearts of Oak at the Accra Sports Stadium which extended their winless away run to 13 matches. King Faisal won the reverse fixture by 2-0 with Joseph Gordon and Godfred Asiamah getting the goals for them.

At the Theatre of Dreams at Dawu Strugglers Dreams FC will face FC Samartex 1996. Dreams FC have won once in their last five matches having lost three and drawn one of the matches and sit in 15^th place with 31 points. Samartex have recorded two wins and three losses in their last five matches and occupies the 9^th spot with 36 points.

Bibiani Gold Stars have a date with Berekum Chelsea at Dun’s Park whilst Karela United do battle with Maxwell Konadu’s Legon Cities at the CAM Park. The first round fixture ended 1-1 at the Sogakope Park with Emmanuel Owusu Boakye and Abdul Rahman netting for the sides.

Bottom placed Kotoku Royals’ unbeaten home record in the second round of the betPawa Premier League will be tested on Saturday as they host Real Tamale United at the Theatre of Dreams at Dawu.

Kotoku Royals are bottom of the table and winless in their last three games. The newly promoted side have also won just once in their last five matches, having lost three and drawn one.

Real Tamale United won 3-2 in the first round with Baba Kushibo, Issah Kuka and Mohammed Nurudeen Yussif scoring for the Tamale lads whiles Richard Dzikoe and Godwin Segla netted for Kotoku Royals.

In form Issah Kuka, Stephen Badu Dankwa, Kwame Boakye, Manaf Umar and Mohammed Sadat are all available to start for Real Tamale United whiles Kotoku Royals have the likes of Collins Kofi Kudjoe, Francis Andy Kumi, Wilson Kwabena, Paul Abanga and Fawzi Ali.

The match is scheduled for 3pm kick off at the Theatre of Dreams at Dawu on Saturday.

Frank Nelson Nwokolo, a Board Member for Accra Hearts of Oak, has given his thoughts on the potential return of former Japanese Head Coach Kenichi Yatshuashi to the club.

While Yatshuashi has expressed interest in returning, Nelson revealed that management’s priority is to support interim Coach David Ocloo in finishing the season strongly with nine matches left.

Nelson acknowledged that while it is never impossible for Kenichi to return, the club needs to have a motivation to bring him back and they don’t want to repeat past mistakes in the way they parted ways.

The Phobians currently sit fourth on the league standings, and Nelson did not rule out the possibility of Kenichi returning in the future, but stated that the club is focused on supporting Ocloo for now.

“In a situation where there is always vacancy you will always assume that people will come up with their own solutions and every other thing.”

“We the Board Members are focused; we know what we want for the club.”

“I don’t think if anybody says Kenichi is coming back to the club, I would just smile at it and accept that.”

“It is never impossible in life, for now we saw Lampard go back to Chelsea, someone will say it was never going to happen, but it actually happened”

Asante Kotoko’s Chief Executive Officer, Nana Yaw Amponsah, has received praise from Mr. Seth Panwum, the Board Chairman of the National Sports Authority (NSA).

Mr. Panwum, a former General Manager of Wa All Stars, believes that Nana Yaw Amponsah deserves a three-year contract extension and emphasized his support for long-term projects.

In an interview with Akoma FM, Mr. Panwum stated that he would extend Nana Yaw Amponsah’s contract if given the opportunity to make decisions at Kotoko.

He would also challenge the CEO and his management to attract a strategic investor to inject capital into the team, retain quality players, and conquer Africa again.

“I’m one of the advocates for long-term projects, so if I have the power to make decisions at Kotoko, I will give them (Nana Yaw Amponsah and his management) a three years contract extension,” Mr. Seth Panwum said in an interview with Akoma FM.

The NSA Board Chairman added, “With that extension, I will challenge them to bring in a strategic investor who will inject capital into the team so they (Kotoko) can retain some of their quality players and not just sell them out for any small amount, by so doing they can conquer Africa again.

“So for me, I would have given them an extension of three years with the above-stated mandate.”

Despite Nana Yaw Amponsah’s outstanding performance, some fans of Asante Kotoko have called for his dismissal.