FootyDream

As the two most successful clubs in the Ghana Premier League prepare to face off in a Week 19 encounter of the 2022/23 season, Hearts of Oak’s head coach, Slavko Matic, has acknowledged that the upcoming Super Cup match against Asante Kotoko will be challenging.

Despite his team’s current form not being the best, Matic remains optimistic about securing a victory.

“It is a big game. Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak and for me, everything is possible.

“The injured players must recover for the game on Sunday,” coach Slavko Matic said.

The Serbian tactician said this during the post match interview of the game between Great Olympics and Hearts of Oak on Wednesday afternoon.

Ghana Premier League side Medeama SC, has reported the departure of their assistant coach, Umar Rabi.

The announcement followed their 19th-week game against Real Tamale United on Wednesday night, which ended in a 1-1 draw, and Rabi was listed as the assistant coach on the team sheet.

“Medeama would like to announce that coach Umar Rabi has left the club,” the club’s social media statement said.

“He has tendered in his resignation. The club will be making no further comments at the moment.”

Umar Rabi has been filling in for the head coach role since Samuel Boadu left in the 2022/21 season.

The Yellow and Mauves sit seventh on the league log with 28 points after 19 rounds of games.

Asante Kotoko returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bechem United at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Wednesday afternoon.

The win has put the Porcupine Warriors in second place and within touching distance of the top spot, while Bechem United has dropped out of the top four.

Enock Morrison scored the only goal of the game in the 21st minute, finding the back of the net with a powerful strike to Kotoko the lead.

Bechem United tried to mount a comeback, but the Kotoko defence held firm, and the home side held on to secure all three points.

The win was a much-needed boost for Kotoko, who had gone winless in their previous two games. The victory has also given the Porcupine Warriors the confidence they need ahead of their big game against arch-rivals Hearts of Oak on Sunday in Accra.

The win has also closed the gap between Kotoko and league leaders Aduana Stars to just five points. Aduana Stars were surprisingly held to a draw at home by King Faisal, which has given Kotoko a great opportunity to close the gap at the top of the table.

Bechem United, on the other hand, have dropped out of the top four following their defeat. The loss has put them under pressure to bounce back in their next game and maintain their position in the top half of the table.

This afternoon, Asante Kotoko will host second-placed Bechem United at the Kumasi Baba Yara Sports Stadium in the BetPawa Premier League, seeking to bounce back after a hard-fought defeat to Aduana Stars in the FA Cup.

Coach Seydou Zerbo aims to turn things around in the league after failing to secure a win in their last two GPL games. However, the squad’s injury situation makes matters more difficult.

Maxwell Agyemang, Justice Blay, Yusif Mubarik, Isaac Oppong, and Rashid Nortey are all out of the game with varying degrees of injuries.

Danlad Ibrahim is back from missing the game against Aduana Stars, he is expected to start ahead of Frederick Asare.

Kotoko’s Possible Line-up Against Bechem United:

Danlad Ibrahim (GK)

Mohammed Alhassan

Augustine Agyapong

Sheriff Mohammed

Nicholas Osei-Bonsu

Richard Boadu

Richmond Lamptey

Eric Zeze

Enock Morrison

Georges Mfegue

Steven Mukwala

League Champions Asante Kotoko will host Bechem United on Matchday 19 of the betPawa Premier League at the Baba Yara Sports stadium on Wednesday.

The Porcupine Warriors lost 2-0 to the Hunters in the first round with Kofi Agbesimah and Emmanuel Avornyo scoring for Bechem United to hand Kotoko their first loss of the season.

Two points separate the two sides – as Asante Kotoko sit 3^rd in the table with 28 points – two points behind Bechem United who are 2^nd in the league table with 30 points. The Porcupines have won two, lost two and drawn one in their last five matches while Bechem United boasts of three wins, one loss and one draw in their last five outings.

Asante Kotoko would expect top scorer Steven Mukwala to show class against the Hunters having scored 8 goals in the ongoing campaign.

The Champions have yet to loss at home this season and Coach Seidu Zerbo would aim to maintain his incredible home record of six wins and three draws in nine matches at the Baba Yara stadium.

Rashid Nortey, Enoch Morrison, Mohammed Alhassan and Richard Boadu are players with enough competence and quality to run the show on Wednesday. Bechem United’s top scorer Hafiz Wontah Konkoni who has netted 8 times in this campaign is available for selection with Emmanuel Avornyo, Aaron Essel, Kofi Agbesimah, Seth Kwadwo, and Isaiah Nyarko all looking to start for the Hunters.

Their last meeting at the Baba Yara stadium ended 2-0 in favour of Asante Kotoko who scored through Samuel Boateng and Ismail Abdul Ganiu.

The 3pm kick off game will be broadcast live on StarTimes Adepa channel 247.