FootyDream

The 2022/23 betPawa Premier League enters Matcch Day II this weekend with some juicy fixtures available across the League Centres. Champions Asante Kotoko are still not available as they host Rail Club du Kadiogo in the 2^nd leg of the preliminary round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Newly promoted side Nsoatreman FC will make their Premier League bow this weekend as they welcome Bibiani Gold Stars to their home grounds. Gold Stars lost their first game at home against Dreams FC and would step out there with an aim of picking their first points of the season.

Bibiani Gold Stars since their debut in the Premier League on October 31, 2022, have managed only one away win – in the League (Aduana FC) and will look forward to improve on their performance.

Nsoatreman are coming into the new season with a new gaffer Gago Mohammed and experienced signings like Baba Mahama, Martin Antwi and Fredrick Boateng, hoping to pick all points against Gold Stars.

Accra Lions vs Karela United

Accra Lions will host Karela United at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday. In their last two games both clubs have managed to win a game each with a total number of four goals produced between them.

Dreams FC vs. Kotoku Royals

Fresh from their win against Bibiani Gold Stars Dreams FC will host newly promoted side Kotoku Royals at the theatre of Dreams – Dawu. Both teams won their week one games and will be looking forward to continue their winning run with another vital points to fight for.

Medeama SC vs. Real Tamale United

Buoyed by the 1-0 win against Legon Cities, Medeama SC will take on Real Tamale United at the Akoon Park on Sunday – RTU drew their first home game against newly promoted side Samartex 1996 FC in week one. Real Tamale United have lost twice in their last two meetings against Medeama in the top flight. In the 2020/21 season, Medeama travelled to Tamale to beat RTU 1-0 and won the return leg in Tarkwa.

Tamale City FC vs. Legon Cities

New comers Tamale City will host Legon Cities at the Aliu Mahama Stadium. Both clubs are meeting after losing their previous games with the newly promoted side losing narrowly to Karela United in Anyinase while Legon Cities lost 1-0 to Medeama SC at home. Cities head into the match without two key players – Micheal Ampadu and Michel Otou who were red carded in their week one game against Medeama SC.

King Faisal FC vs Aduana FC

King Faisal were beaten 2-0 by Berekum Chelsea on the opening day of the season as they fell to the former Champions at the Nana Agyemang Badu Park at Dormaa. They boast of one win each in their last two meetings. The last meeting ended 1-0 in favour of Aduana FC with Bright Adjei scoring the only goal at the Baba Yara stadium during the second round of last season.

Samartex 1996 FC vs Berekum Chelsea FC

Action for Match Day II will be wrapped up on Monday at Akoon Park where Samartex 1996 FC clash with Berekum Chelsea. Samartex are coming into the game fresh from a goalless draw against RTU in Tamale while Berekum Chelsea humbled King Faisal 2-0 to move to the top of the betPawa Premier League table.

Some have said that it’s woefully inadequate.

Others believe the Ghana Football Association (GFA) can more than it’s done and that the sponsorship announcement and how much would end up in the clubs’ account isn’t anything cheerful. Questions: isn’t it better to see the jar as half full than half empty?

Isn’t it appropriate to appreciate the slight shift in securing sponsorships for our domestic leagues rather than assuming a posture that refuses to acknowledge marginal gains in courting corporate support? I’ve watched with interest the efforts of the GFA regarding sponsorship for our domestic leagues. Regardless of the quantum of money that’s to hit the clubs’ account, irrespective of the so-called small amounts involved, for starters, it’s better to have that than nothing.

The nothing-at-all situation only amplifies the cries and taunts that our domestic leagues are orphaned. Now, the elite league has a US$2million-year-deal (for three years) with betPawa. The Women’s Premier League for the first time has a Ghc2million-sponsorship from Malta Guinness for five years. With Access Bank, the Division One League has a US$250,000 one-year sponsorship. It’s the first in seven years.

This should serve as the foundation to woo more corporate investors to our game, otherwise there’ll be no starting point to the destination of lucrative sponsorships for our local football. Club owners and administrators — key stakeholders, need to insist on transparency and accountability if you like. It should be a never-ending call.

The media can’t do much if clubs don’t safeguard their interests using the proper means of checks and balances. Corrupt, suspicious deals must be seen as what they’re, but if you make claims of wrongdoing and you aren’t ready to provide evidence, you should better spare our football the image-denting allegations.

The season has begun on a good note with promises of logistical support to clubs. On the betPawa Premier League, I’ve seen first time, a wrap of data on developments at the various venues on match day one. It’s something useful that would add to the body of information the media need to work with sometimes. It’s positive.

On promoting the leagues, we’re fond of citing European examples that they blackout negativity, which is good but what we don’t reiterate is they’re also deliberate about the management of their leagues. Let our league managers be intentional about what they’ve started and sustain it. That way, we would be closer to making our leagues attractive.

Captured in the just concluded summer transfer window but missed the season opener against Aduana Stars, where they lost by a goal to nil as guests – Hearts of Oak on the latest reports has confirmed the availability of their duo ahead of the betPawa Champions League matchday 2.

Club’s spokesperson, Opare Addo affirmed -Konadu Yiadom and Congolese star Linda Mtange’s eligibility to play in subsequent matches for the reigning FA Cup champions – starting from Sunday against Great Olympics – the “Ga-Mantse” derby.

Yiadom who joined from rivals West African Football Academy is highly likely to make his debut for the Phobians – deputies for Caleb Amankwah who was red-carded.

Mtange, on the other hand, who also joined from native outfit AS Dauphin Noir probably makes progress from the bench as his new to the league.

A rough start in the season opener, Hearts of Oak are looking forward to a positive result and Sunday [September, 18th 2022] might be the day they find their answers this term.

Hearts of Oak legend Bernard Dong Bortey believes teen sensation Isaac Oppong can become his successor.

The youngster scored a late winner for the Porcupine Warriors to mark his return to full fitness after struggling in the 2021/22 season due to injury setbacks.

Isaac Oppong found space in the box and slotted home at the death to give Kotoko an important first leg win in CAF Champions League preliminary round.

“Isaac Oppong of Asante Kotoko is the next Don Bortey, he just needs little guidance to get there” he told Seth Kojo Amoah Mayanga of Union FM in Sunyani.

Isaac Oppong is expected to weave his magic on Sunday in the reverse fixture of the CAF Champions League preliminary round.

Ghana FA General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo has revealed that players will be paid the locker room bonuses starting this weekend in match day two fixtures.

The locker room bonus was introduced this season as part of the sponsorship support from betPawa as the headliner of the Ghana Premier league.

Players will receive an amount of Ghc 150 for winning matches this season from the headline sponsors from the Locker room bonuses.

Prosper Harrison Addo disclosed in an interview on Happy FM that six teams have been paid the locker room bonus on match day one.

“Next weekend, the winning teams will get the locker room bonus. This is for the players and that is 20 of them excluding the coaches and technical team”, he said.

He added that all the players will receive the same amount as winning bonus.

“All the players will receive the same amount. It’s part of the sponsorship for players. It’s only for winning games. This is also for some sort of motivation for the players. In next week’s round of games the players will be paid directly and this process will continue throughout the season.

Captain of Great Olympics, Philip Nii Kojo Sackey, is confident of another scalp against the regional rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak, in a match day two clash of the betPawa Ghana Premier League (GPL).

The ‘Accra Derby’ would take centre stage this weekend when Great Olympics, who won the first league match against Bechem United, face off against Hearts.

The Phobians lost their opening day fixture against Aduana Stars and would look to bounce back in style with pressure mounting on Head Coach, Samuel Boadu.

Speaking in a post-match press conference after their 1-0 victory against Bechem United, Sackey was confident of a positive outcome in Sunday’s clash.

“Last season I told them we were going to beat them and we did. It won’t be different from this season. I can’t predict the scoreline, but we are going to take all three points,” he said.

Meanwhile, Yaw Preko, Head Coach of Olympics, says winning the league title and the FA Cup is an achievable target for his side.

The ‘Wonder Club’ made an impressive start to the betPawa Ghana Premier League (GPL) after beating Bechem United 1-0 at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday.

According to Coach Preko, the team had to aim at making an impact this season, and winning the double could be achievable, considering the quality we have.

“You can’t start a season without aiming at something. We have to do better in both competitions, and I think winning the league is achievable,” he said.

The former Ghana international added that their least target was to make the top four. 

Sharing his thoughts about the first game of the season, Yaw Preko described his opponents, Bechem United, as a very good side in terms of possessing but commended his side for securing the maximum three points.  

“Most often the first game of the season is a bit scrappy, but I am happy with the win and we will look to build on it,” he said. –GNA