FootyDream

Wonder Club Accra Great Olympics assumed the summit of the Ghana Premier League on the same points (21) with Karela United with an emphatic win against Alhaji Grunsah’s King Faisal in a one-sided game at the Accra Sports Stadium in the week 12 opener of the Ghana Premier League.

The visibly fatigued looking two sides entered the game on a rather slow note, making fundamental mistakes in the early minutes of the game, having played high profiled games over the weekend, both Accra Great Olympics and King Faisal did not produce the ecstatic atmospheric mood as was seen when they exhibited magical moments in their week 11 encounters.

Fresh from that 2-0 victory against Hearts of Oak, Great Olympics had to keep a makeshift side that was without Captain Gladson Awako, and influential midfielder Michael Otou, who both missed the game through suspension of a third Yellow Card.

in return Charles Danso Otu, and Michael Yeboah had to do the job for the dade boys, from the initial exchanges, Olympics looked the better of the two, with Maxwell Abbey Quaye, and Younger Brother Samuel Ashie Quaye directing affairs from the wings.

Meanwhile, the Insha Allah boys mapped a strong counter attacking strategy to use Kwame Peprah on top of attack, but it was certainly the dade boys who had the better  of the first half with Charles Danso Otu seperating the two sides with cheeky tap in from close range.

Great Olympics added another creatively worked out goal  in the 55th minute with only three touches from the goal area, Razak Kasim sent a long crossing pass onto the feet of Maxwell Abbey who found the onrushing Samuel Quaye on the left flank before unleashing a sweet volley that beat goalkeeper Jabal in post.

King Faisal never relented on their effort to get back to the game, with a push in the midfield by Wadudu Yakubu, and Frimpong Boateng. the efforts paid off in the 74th minute when Frimpong picked a lose ball in the centre circle, moved few stepped, before releasing a grounding shot that beat Goalkeeper Saeed Salifu in post for Olympics.

The goal seemed to have angered the Wonder club, who changed gear to tear their guest, and true to it, Maxwell Abbey, Sameul Ashie, Hamza Zakari and Micheal Yebaoh combined to score the third and final goal of the day in the 80th minute with the defence of King Faisal looking on.

Coach Yaw Preko made three quick substitutions to allow David Amuzu, Hamza Zakari, and Arnold Abbey to have a bite of the game with the results rapped up.

By Seidu Adamu/442gh

Former Asante Kotoko Management member, Lawyer Sarfo Duku Esq. has called on the hierarchy of the club to make the appointment of coach Johnson Smith permanent.

Johnson Smith was promoted to lead the technical team of Porcupine Warriors as a stop-gap trainer following the sacking of Maxwell Konadu.

He has secured three wins, three draws and a defeat in the seven games he has supervised so far.

Connoisseurs of the game and section of the clubs supporters have called on the current management to appoint a new gaffer because they feel the former Karela United gaffer is not fit for the position aside not having the required License A to coach in the Ghana Premier League.

But Sarfo Duku, who worked with the club as head of legal team under the tenure of Dr Kwame Kyei as Executive Chairman has insisted that it would be suicidal to drop Smith for another coach.

“It’ll be suicidal to drop Johnson Smith for another coach. He is on the right path, should he be given time he will deliver. There have been over-hyped coaches in Kotoko who couldn’t achieve what he’s doing. I don’t know if they want a ‘big name, ” Lawyer Sarfo Duku told Oyerepa FM.

Reports indicate that the Ghanaian giants are likely to appoint a foreign trainer in the coming weeks.

Former Asante Kotoko coach, Maxwell Konadu has disclosed that the only difference in the Kotoko team since his departure is Brazilian midfielder, Fabio Gama.

Konadu was sacked after a slim 1-0 defeat to Great Olympics on match-day 4 of the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League by the Nana Yaw Amponsah-led management team.

His assistant Johnson Smith took over as a stopgap trainer.

According to the experienced gaffer, he knew Kotoko was going to struggle at the initial stage of the season following the arrival of new players.

He, however, indicated that he knew the Porcupine Warriors will become a fearsome side in the league with time and that he is not shocked about the current seemingly resurgent runs.

“I knew the team will transform with time so I am unsurprised about how they are performing now,” said Maxwell Konadu in an exclusive interview with Nhyira FM.

“It was always going to be difficult in the early days of the season because when new players come in a team it takes some time for them to find telepathy and chemistry.”

He concluded that the only difference in the Kotoko team now is Brazilian midfielder, Fabio Gama.

“Fabio Gama has been the only difference in the Kotoko team following his spirited performance. He is doing well.”

The former WAFU winner won one and drew two matches before he was relieved from his position as the head coach of Asante Kotoko.

The first set of fixtures of the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League to be played in midweek is here and it promises to be exciting.

The first game of this gameweek will see red-hot Great Olympics welcome King Faisal to the Accra Sports Stadium. The two sides picked emphatic victories in their previous games, Olympics defeated Hearts 2-0, whiles King Faisal came from 3 goals down to beat Berekum Chelsea 4-3.

A win for either side could see big changes at the top and bottom of the table. King Faisal have the better history in this fixture, they’ve won 4 of the last 5. Olympics will be without talisman Gladson Awako due to suspension.

Struggling Berekum Chelsea will host 2nd placed Bechem United at the Golden City park. Chelsea currently sit 15th on the league table and last weekend threw away a 3 goals lead to lose 4-3 to King Faisal.

Despite being in bad form this season, Chelsea are unbeaten at home, whiles Bechem United have lost their last 2 away games by an aggregate score of 8-2.

Resurgent Dreams FC will welcome WAFA to the theatre of Dreams. Dreams FC have looked a different side under Vladislav Viric, they are unbeaten in 4 games under the Serbian gaffer and will like to continue that form against a WAFA side that has lost 3 away games so far this season.

In Cape Coast, Ebusua Dwarfs will host AshantiGold. Dwarfs come into the game brimming with confidence after picking a valuable point in Dormaa last time out. AshantiGold have a blip in form, they’ve failed to win any of their last 3 games but will fancy their chances against the side with the worst home form in the league.

Dwarfs have won 4 of their last 5 home games against AshantiGold, with the other game being a draw.

Bruised Eleven Wonders will welcome Elmina Sharks to the Ohene Ameyaw park. Eleven Wonders last time out conceded 3 late goals to lose 3-1 and will hope to turn things around. Elmina Sharks are yet to win an away game this season, they’ve picked just 3 points on the road and conceded 11 goals.

After 11 games played, Liberty Professionals surprisingly find themselves in the drop zone, they’ve lost 4 games in a row and will on Wednesday be facing one of the in form sides in the league, Aduana Stars.

Asante Kotoko will be at home this gameweek against bottom placed side Inter Allies. Kotoko have failed to win or score in any of their last 2 games and pressure is starting to mount on the Porcupine Warriors to deliver.

Inter Allies so far have lost 8 of the 11 games played so far this season, scoring just 4 goals. A win for them against Kotoko will surely be the result of the season, but can they defy the odds?

On Thursday, rejuvenated Legon Cities will host league leaders Karela. 3 victories from the last 4 games has moved Legon Cities out of the relegation zone and will be looking to build on that against Karela.

Despite sitting top of the table with 21 points. Karela’s away form is nothing to write home about, they’ve picked just 3 points from a possible 15 in away games. Can they finally get their first away win of the season?

Surely the game of the week, Medeama host Hearts of Oak in Tarkwa, both sides come into the game at the back of defeats and will be looking to get a win this week.

Medeama are unbeaten at home this season, whiles Hearts of Oak haven’t lost any of their last 3 away games. The home side have the better record in this fixture, they’ve won 3 of their last 5 games against Hearts of Oak and drawn the other 2.

Gameweek 12 fixtures

Standings going into week 12

By Shaibu Mahama

Legon Cities goalkeeper, Fatau Dauda believes that a new team is likely to emerge as the winner of the ongoing 2020/21 Ghana Premier League.

After eleven round of matches, the season promises to be crazier than expected. Both Kotoko and Hearts Of Oak had a shaky start to the season but many believe that they can still turn things around and go all the way to win the league. Medeama SC and AshantiGold have also not done well so far.

Teams like Bechem United, Karela United and Great Olympics seem rejuvenated and are currently doing very well. Ebusua Dwarfs have been impressive on the road in this campaign being one of the clubs with most points secured in away games.

Veteran Dauda has indicated that the 2020/21 season has been competitive and a new team could be a winner when the season comes to a close

“I’m praying that we complete this season. For some time now all our seasons have been truncated due to one reason or another, ” he told Hello FM.

“The league is very competitive. Every week we hear about certain results we least expected.

“It’s possible that an unknown team can win the league because it has happened before.

“For me, so far the league has been very competitive.”

Aduana Stars won the Ghanaian top-flight in 2009, the same year they gained promotion to play in the league.

The match officials for Matchweek 12 of the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League season have been appointed.

See who will be officiating in the Week 12 round of fixtures including the GFA Cameraman and Venue Media Officers:

AshantiGold Head Coach, Milovan Cirkovic has said that he was satisfied with his side’s goalless draw against regional rivals Asante Kotoko at the Len Clay Stadium on Sunday.

The two sides faced off in a match-day 11 battle of the ongoing Ghana Premier League.

Ahead of the tricky clash, Cirkovic was confident of picking a win. But speaking after the game the Serbian trainer has noted that, although three points would have been a better result, a point is not bad against a tough opponent like the Porcupine Warriors.

“We wanted three points but we don’t have three, am satisfied with one. They are a good team we are a good team and it was a difficult game. Now am satisfied draw is okay. It was difficult because they tactically played well,” Cirkovic said at post-match.

Ashanti Gold after the draw at home will travel to play Ebusua Dwarfs at the Cape Coast Stadium while Kotoko will play Inter Allies at the Accra Stadium in week 12 of the Ghana Premier League.

The Porcupine Warriors maintained their impressive away record after playing a scoreless stalemate with regional rivals AshantiGold SC on Sunday afternoon.

Kotoko are yet to lose an away game this season. Coach Johnson Smith’s charges were wasteful upfront.

Below is a video of the game: