body-container-line-1

Ghana Premier League: The impact of form guide in Hearts-Kotoko ties

By Allsports.com.gh
League Report Ghana Premier League: The impact of form guide in Hearts-Kotoko ties
APR 28, 2016 LISTEN

The long awaited match of the Ghana Premier League will be played on Monday in Accra to determine who get the bragging rights when Hearts of Oak take on Asante Kotoko.

Several factors come into play whenever these sides come against each other in a tie: the impact of juju, form guide, player quality, the influence of the coach on his team, the impact of the fans, motivation, determination, etc.

In football the most determining factor that decides the outcome of games is the form guide of a team. However, most football fans in the country believe it is the least to talk about when Hearts of Oak engage Asante Kotoko, as they go by the saying that form guide doesn't work in games between them.

I have a contrary view to that as a statistical analyst of the game. After a careful study of the trend involving Hearts of oak and Kotoko games, I can confidently say that whenever the disparity between these sides is clear, the one with good form hardly lose the tie. But there are also instances, the underdogs produce upsets in such encounters.

However, I believe a team that is on form should be an all-conquering team and not an inconsistent side. I will elaborate on this in the course of this piece to indicate whether there is a clear difference between Hearts and Kotoko as they come up against each other on Monday.

Let me take you back into times and give you instances that form guide determined the outcome of the most played league tie in the anal of Ghana football. The era of the fearsome five (5): Late 1970's

Hearts of Oak put together a strong side that managed to reach the Africa Club Champions Cup final in 1977. The core of the team was 5 players named the fearsome five: Anas Seidu, Mohammed Polo, Robert Hammond, Peter Lamptey and Mama Acquah. They had the name, due to their devastating form, especially they always rose to the occasion in big games, especially against Kotoko.

Hearts of Oak after losing the Africa Club Champions Cup final in 1977, continued their dominance in domestic football by winning the league in 1978. Prior to their league encounter in 1978, one could say with much certainty that the Phobians were the favourites and lived up the billing. Hearts of Oak won the home and away league fixtures and even achieved an unprecedented feat, using nine (9) men to beat an 11 man Asante Kotoko 2-1 team in Kumasi. Hearts of Oak impressive form enabled them to defend the league title in 1979. Kotoko had to dig deep Before getting their first win against the Phobians in 6 games in all competitions within that period. The grand Kotoko: Early 1980's

The period from 1980 to 1983 is the most successful in the enviable history of Kumasi Asante Kotoko. They won the league trophy on four consecutive times: 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983. Never in the history of the club have they matched this feat. Asante Kotoko also played in the final of the Africa Club Champions Cup, now the CAF Champions League in 1982 and 1983. They lost to Al Ahly in 1982, but avenged that defeat by beating the Egyptian giants to win it the following year. Asante Kotoko had a very solid team made up Joe Carr, Addae Kyenkyehene, Papa Arko, Ernest Appau, Kwesi Appiah, Kofi Badu, Albert Asaase, Ebo Mends, John Bannerman, Isaac Afranie, Opoku Nti, Opoku Afriyie, etc. It would surprise you that Kotoko remained unbeaten in seven (7) league encounters against Hearts of Oak (W5, D2)

1980   
Hearts of Oak 0-3 Asante Kotoko 
This is the worst home defeat in encounters between these sides      

Asante Kotoko          1-1 Hearts of Oak
1981   
Hearts of Oak 0-1 Asante Kotoko        
Asante Kotoko          2-0 Hearts of Oak
1982   
Hearts of Oak 0-2 Asante Kotoko        
Asante Kotoko          3-0 Hearts of Oak
1983 
Hearts of Oak 0-0 Asante Kotoko        
 Hears of Oak said enough was enough by edging Kotoko 4-3 in Kumasi in a game that was full of excitement and drama in the 2nd leg to end their winless streak. The era of the 64-battalions/the golden Phobians: Late 1990's and early 2000's

This is the most successful era in the history of Accra Hearts of Oak. They won the Ghana league for an unprecedented 6 consecutive seasons, won the CAF Champions League, 2 FA Cups and CAF Super Cup. The team played as a unit and due to their fearsome nature, it was called the 64-battalions, named after a special military group in Ghana: Sammy Adjei, Jacob Nettey, Dan Quaye, Amankwa Mireku, Stephen Tetteh, Sanni Wahab, Michael Donkor, Charles Allotey, Ishmael Addo, Charles Taylor, etc. Their dominance in both domestic and continental football was so amazing. Within that period, they enjoyed the better part of the clashes against their archrivals Kotoko.

Kotoko failed to beat Hearts in 9 league games on the trot and even suffered their worst defeat in the tie (L5, D4).

1996/97
Asante Kotoko           1-2 Hearts of Oak
Hearts of Oak 1-1 Asante Kotoko        
1997/98
Hearts of Oak 1-1 Asante Kotoko        
Asante Kotoko           2-2 Hearts of Oak
1999   
Asante Kotoko           0-1 Hearts of Oak
Hearts of Oak 2-0 Asante Kotoko        
2000   
Hearts of Oak 4-0 Asante Kotoko    
Highest win in Kotoko-Hearts encounters   
Asante Kotoko           1-1 Hearts of Oak
2001
Hearts of Oak 2-1 Kotoko Kotoko the local champions: 2012-2014

This was the period Asante Kotoko were unmatched on the local scene. They won the league title three on the row. However, they were unable to translate their form into continental success as they suffered elimination from the CAF Champions League in all the three occasions they were involved in Africa inter club's competitions.

The Porcupine Warriors won the league in the 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons and climax it with their first domestic double of League and FA Cup in the 2013-14 season. During this period Kotoko went undefeated in six (6) league games against Hearts of Oak (W2, D4).

Despite the fact that form guide has been the trump card, there are instances determination on the part of one side enabled them to produce a big surprise.

1979
Kotoko 2-1 Hearts of Oak
Kotoko, following several games without a win against Hearts of Oak produced a win in the return leg of the 1979 season

1984
Kotoko 3-4 Hearts of Oak
Hearts of Oak after failing to beat Kotoko in 7 consecutive games stunned them in Kumasi in their 8 league game.

1991
Kotoko who were tipped favourites, following 12 games unbeaten were piped 0-1 by Hearts of Oak in Kumasi in 1991.

2001
Kotoko 2-0 Hearts of Oak
The Porcupine Warriors after losing the May 9 game, plotted the  fall of the Phobians and succeeded with a 2-0 win  to end their 9 league games without a win.

2007-08
Hearts of Oak 0-0 Kotoko
Kotok 3-3 Hearts of Oak
Although Kotoko were magnificent throughout the season, they couldn't beat struggling Hearts of Oak in both ties.

I think that the difference between Hearts of Oak and Kotoko this season is slight prior to the match day 10 clash.

 Hearts of Oak have been impressive in away league games, remaining the only side unbeaten this season on the road. However, prior to their away league victory against AshGold over the weekend they had gone 4 games in all competitions without a win. We should remember that the Miners have been struggling and that was their second consecutive home loss. Kotoko on the other hand had  a poor start to the season, but got to winning ways, after replacing head coach David Duncan with assistant coach Michael Osei and won three games on the trot prior to their home defeat to New Edubiase.

But it would be recalled that New Edubiase are the boggy side of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, so it won't make sense to tag them as underdogs against Hearts of Oak, after a defeat to the Edubiase lads. 

The Porcupine Warriors have been blowing cold and warm this season, since the Porcupine Warriors rose to the occasion against Dreams FC by handing them their first home defeat.

 In this case I will not state emphatically that Hearts are the overwhelming favourites because they have also let down their fans in certain games during the season.

I believe it could be any team's game, because there is a thin line separating these sides.

body-container-line