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FC Samartex 1996 will clash with defending champions Asante Kotoko on Matchday 22 of the betPawa Premier League at Nsenkyire Park on Saturday.

FC Samartex have lost only once this season –  a 3-0 defeat to Bibiani Gold Stars on Saturday, November 13, 2022 during the first round of the season.

The new entrants lost 2-1 to Asante Kotoko in the first round of the campaign at the Baba Yara Stadium and will be meeting the champions in Sameraboi for the first time in the history of the betPawa Premier League.

FC Samartex are 9th in the table with 30 points and have recorded three wins, one draw and one defeat in their last five matches.

Asante Kotoko will be without head coach Seydou Zerbo who lost his son few days ago in Burkina Faso. The Porcupine Warriors have a game in hand – against King Faisal and sit in 5th place with 31 points having won two, lost two and drawn one in their last five matches. The champions have won two away games this season and their last away victory coming against Medeama SC on Saturday, November 12, 2022.

Asante Kotoko have been handed an injury boost ahead of the game with midfielder Justice Blay and forward Dickson Afoakwa back in full team training this week.

Former Tema Youth winger Evans Osei Wusu has improved the side tremendously following his free transfer in the January window. The winger brings experience, pace and depth to a team that already have Larry Sumaila, Emmanuel Keyekeh, Richard Baidoo, Ebenezer Ackahbi, James Sewornu, and in-form shot stopper Lawrence Ansah who has kept 10 clean sheets in 15 games Lawrence Ansah.

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

Still on Saturday, Tamale City will battle Dreams FC at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium. Tamale City drew 0-0 against Dreams FC in their first leg encounter with both teams failing to win on Matchday 21.

Tamale City picked a vital away point against rivals, Real Tamale United in Tamale whiles Dreams FC lost 3-2 against Accra Lions in Accra. Tamale City sit 17th in the table with 21 points having won only once in their last five matches – resulting in three draws one defeat. Dreams FC have won two, lost two and drawn one in their last five matches and sit in 10th place with 27 points after Match day 21.

Tamale City will rely on Samuel Baah Nuako, Ali Mohammed, Justice Ato Mensah and Mathew Agama while Dreams FC have the likes of Ali Huzaif, Ishmael Dede, Michael Sarpong and Abdul Jalilu available for the game.

Kotoko will face FC Samartex without goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim and defender Augustine Agyapong, who are on national duty with the Black Meteors at the Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence.

The team will make two changes to the squad that travelled to Accra for the game against Accra Hearts of Oak, with Justice Blay and Moise Poauty joining the 20-man travelling squad.

However, head coach Seydou Zerbo will be absent from the game, having been granted a two-week break following the death of his ten-year-old son.

Deputy coach Orlando Wellington will take charge of the team in his absence. The injury list includes Rashid Nortey, Maxwell Agyemang, Isaac Oppong, Yusif Mubarik, and Dickson Afoakwa, who are still unavailable.

The match is scheduled to take place at the Nana Nsenkyire Sports Arena on Saturday, March 18, 2023.

Check the 20-man squad below:

GOALKEEPERS

Frederick Asare

Moise Poauty

DEFENDERS

Sherif Mohammed

Mohammed Alhassan

Nicholas Osei-Bonsu

Charles Owusu

John Tedeku

MIDFIELDERS

Richard Boadu

Richmond Lamptey

Mohammed Sherif

Eric Zeze

Rocky Dwamena

Clinton Opoku

Enock Morrison

Shadrach Addo

Justice Blay

FORWARDS

Matheus Medieros de Souza

Sarfo Taylor

Georges Mfegue

Steven Mukwala

Asante Kotoko head coach, Seydou Zerbo will miss the club’s away trip to Samreboi on Saturday.

The Porcupines will take on the Premier League debutants, Samartex in a Premier League matchweek 22 fixture. However, Zerbo is unavailable for the game after his trip back to his homeland, Burkina Faso for his son’s burial.

The 59-year-old had his 10-year-old Mamadou lost his life due to complications after a Heart surgery. 

The club granted Seydou Zerbo a two-weeks off-duty to supervise his son’s burial and cool off his head after returning to the touchline and is expected to return to his duties at the club next week.

In his absence, assistant coach Orlando Wellington who has been training with the side since the depature of Zerbo last week will be in charge on Saturday against Samartex.

The Porcupines will aim for a win over the Timber boys to move them further up the league log.

With immediate effect, defender Samuel Appiah’s contract with Asante Kotoko has been mutually terminated.

Appiah joined the reds on a three-year deal from Medeama in September 27, 2021. However, he failed to meet expectations, featuring only four times for Asante Kotoko this season without any goals or assists, and spending most of his time in and out of the club’s lineup.

Recent reports from Kickgh.com suggest that Appiah, also known as ‘Thunder,’ has had conflicts with management, leading him to request to be released.

The 29-year-old defender is now on the lookout for a new club to revive his stuttering career.

Francis Andy Kumi, the striker for Kotoku Royals, is confident that they can defeat Accra Hearts of Oak in their upcoming match on Sunday in the BetPawa Premier League.

Despite losing 1-0 to the Rainbows in their first meeting during the first round, Kumi believes that his team has the necessary tools to surprise the President’s Cup holders in Accra.

Kumi, who has been in excellent form recently with six goals in eight league games, said, “Our preparations and everything show that we are ready for Hearts of Oak. Winning is possible. Hearts of Oak is beatable. Some teams were able to beat them, and I think we are well prepared.”

Although Kumi is optimistic about their chances, he is not making any guarantees. “I don’t want to say that we will beat them, but they are beatable. I’m hoping that we will have our day coming Sunday as compared to other games we played so that we can claim victory for our supporters in Oda,” he added.

Kotoku Royals is currently in 18th place in the Premier League table after 21 games, and a win against Hearts of Oak could be a significant boost for their relegation battle.