After the mid-week round of matches, every single team has now tasted defeat. Wa All Stars’ enviable record of being the only team not to have lost a game came crushing in Bechem. Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s season is finally back on track, while Hearts of Oak’s struggles are set to continue in Obuasi.
Footy-Ghana’s Fentuo Tahiru brings you predictions from this weekend’s round of matches, with Kotoko kicking us off on Saturday, with the rest of the games on Sunday.
Match: Asante Kotoko Vs New Edubiase
Venue: Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi
Kick-off: 3:20pm
Kumasi Asante Kotoko will return to their favored grounds after two consecutive matches away from home in all competitions. The turnaround for the Porcupine Warriors since the departure of David Duncan has been dramatic. Kotoko have now put together three consecutive victories in all competitions this season, winning their first away game in the league against a very difficult Dreams FC side in Dawu. Apart from the results, Kotoko have played some very good football under interim coach Michael Osei. The 2014 league champions should continue their impressive run against struggling New Edubiase, who have yet to win a game away from home.
Prediction: Asante Kotoko 2-0 Edubiase FC
Match: Wa All Stars Vs Inter Allies
Venue: Malik Jabir Stadium, Wa
Kick-off: 3pm, Saturday.
League leaders Wa All Stars lost for the first time this season in midweek against Bechem United. It was a game many expected All Stars not to lose, but Bechem showed just why the Nana Gyeabour park is one of the most feared grounds in the Ghana Premier League. Abednago Tetteh breached the seemingly impregnable All Stars defense twice. At home, All Stars have only dropped two points; a 0-0 draw against Liberty Professionals. It’s been a very busy week for most premier league clubs, but not for Inter Allies, who have not played a competitive game since their last home win against Bechem United. Herbert Addo’s charges 12 days ago. In Wa however, all of that rest would mean nothing, considering how poor Allies have been at home.
Prediction: All Stars 2-1 Inter Allies
Match: Techiman City Vs Bechem United
Venue: Ohene Ameyaw Park, Techiman
Kick-off: 3pm
Techiman City are turning out to be a club that only wins at home. Only one of their eleven points has come away from home; a 2-2 draw in Obuasi against Edubiase. The Techiman-based side promised to make their home ground a fortress, prior to the start of the league and that’s exactly what they’ve done, dropping points only against Hearts of Oak in 4 previous home games. Bechem have been terrible away from home, losing all 4 games on the road this campaign thus far. On Sunday, a similar story should continue. Of course, the derby factor will play a role, but so far, Techiman City have negotiated the derbies quite nicely against Berekum Chelsea and Aduana Stars.
Prediction: Techiman City 1-0 Bechem United
Match: WAFA Vs Ebusua Dwarfs
Venue: Red Bull Arena, Sogakope
Kick-off: 3pm
WAFA have had a mixed season so far in terms of results; very impressive at home, abysmal on the road. However, in midweek they grabbed the headlines not only for their first away point of the season against Hearts of Oak, but also for the conduct of their players in that game. After conceding the equalizer and desperate to grind out a draw, the academy boys resorted to time-wasting tactics. Black Stars midfielder Samuel Tetteh eventually got sent off for getting into an altercation with a Red Cross official, and will be unavailable for this game. But it was a hard fought point. And after unexpectedly drawing their last home game against Edubiase, WAFA know nothing but victory against Dwarfs will please their fans. Dwarfs are on a resurgence and come into this game with back to back home wins. Away from home however, this could prove too much to ask from the Cape Coast-based side.
Prediction: WAFA 2-1 Dwarfs
Match: Ashantigold Vs Hearts of Oak
Venue: Len Clay Stadium, Obuasi
Kick-off: 3pm
This is arguably the clash of the round. The battle of the troubled sides. The league champions have endured a torrid run so far this season. Until their midweek victory against neighbours Edubiase, the miners had not won a game since the opening day of the season. It’s far-fetched for anyone to suggest Ashgold’s problems are over. Their opponents Accra Hearts of Oak are coming off one of their worst weeks in terms of both results and off-field issues. The Phobians are winless in their last 4 games in all competitions. It’s remarkable how things have seemingly fallen apart for the oak tree family. Head coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi’s close pal Joe Addo and the club’s sporting director was sacked on Thursday, while Yatsuhashi himself could lose his job after this particular game. The Japanese-trainer will likely not travel with the team to this game after being told to stay off the players. It’s controversial in both camps and I think a draw will be a fair result.
Prediction: AshantiGold 1-1 Hearts of Oak
Match: Berekum Chelsea Vs Dreams
Venue: Golden City Park, Berekum.
Kick-off: 3pm
Berekum Chelsea badly missed the services of talisman Sadick Adams when they were swept apart 3-1 by a Latif Blessing-inspired Liberty Professionals. The striker has been the driving force of Chelsea all season. His return should be a major boost for the Berekum-based side. However, that alone won’t be enough to give them victory over Dreams, one of only two teams to have won 2 games away from home so far this season. In midweek, Dreams were very unlucky not to get at least a point in their defeat to Kotoko. C.K. Akunnor’s side are showing some grit this campaign and I’m tipping them to come away with at least a point from Berekum.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Dreams
Match: Hasaacas Vs Liberty
Venue: Essipong Stadium, Sekondi
Kick-off: 3pm
Hasaacas have now truly embarrassed themselves this season. 17 goals conceded in just 8 matches is unacceptable for a topflight team. The shocking thing has been the fact that Hasmal has been able to win games at home. It’s understandable if they are having an all round poor season. This is far from it. At home, Hasaacas are very strong. They have beaten some of the strongest teams at home so far, including Chelsea and Medeama. And they havent’ been conceding that many goals at home either. It will be interesting how they cope with an exciting Liberty Professionals side, who alongside Inter Allies, have scored the most goals so far with 12 each. Latif Blessing against this porous Hasaacas defense? There’s no avoiding conceding for Hasaacas. However, home advantage will prevent Hasmal from losing.
Prediction: Hasaacas 2-2 Liberty Professionals
Match: Aduana Vs Medeama
Venue: Agyemang Badu Park,
Kick-off: 3pm
Aduana Stars have now put their opening season troubles behind them and are now beginning to get their season back on track. Yahaya Mohammed has been anything but impressive until the floodgates opened for the enigmatic striker in Aduana’s last game when he hit a hattrick against Hasaacas. Bright Adjei scored his second goal of the season as well to confirm why coach Aristica Cioabă continues to put his faith in the youngster. Another game at home should have been another easy 3 points. But they are coming up against a team’s whose home form has been in sharp contrast with their form in Africa and desperately in need of a lift. Medeama are 2nd from bottom in the league, and although it’s still early season, the Mauves and Yellows surely will have the experience of 2014 in the back of their heads where an impressive run in Africa almost resulted in them being relegated. They are clearly struggling to find a balance between Africa and domestic competitions and the earlier they start climbing up the table in the league, the better for them. Medeama have never won in Dormaa and only one of the last 11 meetings between these two sides has produced a draw.
Prediction: Aduana Stars 1-0 Medeama
