Ghana Premier League: Hearts of Oak seek to end six seasons winless streak against Kotoko

Hearts of Oak will host Asante Kotoko in the 103rd league game between the two giants at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday May 2.

The Phobians for the past six seasons have not won a league game against Asante Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium.

It will be the game the fans and the connoisseurs have been waiting for since the 2016 Ghana Premier League commenced, but both sides are not on the same level regarding their respective performances in the on-going campaign.

The Phobians are having bright start to the league for the first time in seven seasons. The current resurgence of the Accra giants have been credited to Coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi who is currently been regarded as one of the best coaches in the league.

Hearts of Oak after nine league games have amassed 18 points and they occupy the second position on the log sheet. In their last league game they recorded a convincing 1-2 win over Ashanti Gold in Obuasi.

For Asante Kotoko they have been inconsistent in the league. They were very poor in their first six games but they returned to winning ways by recording back to back victories against Liberty Professionals and Dreams FC.

At a point the club's fans thought Kotoko have regained their old form. They were however stunned 0-1 by New Edubiase at their own backyard in their last league game.

On paper it shows clear that currently Hearts of Oak are favourites ahead of Asante Kotoko but matches between the two sides are very dicey.

In-form Hearts of Oak forward Cosmos Dauda ahead of Monday's clash told  Pulse.com.gh  that it will be a tough game but he is sure of his side's victory.

'Kotoko is a big club and that will make the game very tough but I'm sure that we will beat them for the three points.

'We have come a long way and there is no turning back, we are psyched up for the game. We are not going to be complacent because of the form of Kotoko, we want to win the game and that is our focus.'

But Asante Kotoko versatile defender Tuffuor Frimpong is unperturbed regarding Hearts of Oak's form.

'Hearts of Oak are doing well and there is no doubt about that. We are not bothered about their form, we have a game plan and we will march them boot for boot.

'We lost our last game and we need to react quickly and that is beating Hearts of Oak so that we can put smiles on the faces of our supporters,' he told  Pulse.com.gh .

MATCH FACTS
Hearts of Oak have battled Asante Kotoko 102 times in the Ghana Premier League. The Phobians have won 34, drawn 36 and lost 32 times.

Since the start of Professional League in Ghana in 1993/1994, the two sides have met 41 times. Hearts of Oak have picked 15 wins, lost 9 and drawn 17 times. In that period the Accra giants have scored 47 goals as against Kotoko's 38. HEAD TO HEAD

1993 / 1994
Hearts 0-0 Kotoko 
Kotoko 0-0 Hearts 
1994 / 1995
Hearts 2:1 Kotoko
Kotoko 3:1 Hearts 
1995 / 1996
Kotoko 2:1 Hearts 
Hearts 3:3 Kotoko
1996 / 1997
Kotoko 1:2 Hearts 
Hearts 1:1 Kotoko
1997 / 1998
Hearts 1:1 Kotoko
Kotoko 2:2 Hearts
1998 / 1999
Kotoko 0:1 Hearts
Hearts 2:0 Kotoko
2000
Hearts 4:0 Kotoko 
Kotoko 1:1 Kotoko
2001
Hearts 2:1 Kotoko 
Kotoko 2:0 Hearts 
2002
Kotoko 1:1 Hearts 
Hearts 3:0 Kotoko
2003
Hearts 0:0 Kotoko
Hearts 1:1 kotoko
2004 (Over All Decider Between Zone A and Zone B
Hearts 1: 0 Kotoko
2005
Kotoko 3:1 Hearts
Hearts 1:1 Kotoko
2006 / 2007
Kotoko 0:1 Hearts 
Hearts 3:1 Kotoko
2007 / 2008
Hearts 0:0 Kotoko
Kotoko 3:3 Hearts
2008 / 2009
Kotoko 1:2 Hearts 
Hearts 0:1 Kotoko
2009 / 2010
Hearts 1:0 Kotoko 
Kotoko 0:1 Hearts
2010 / 2011
Kotoko 0:1 Hearts 
Hearts 0:2 Kotoko
2011 / 2012
Hearts 0:0 Kotoko
Kotoko 2:1 Hearts
2012 / 2013
Hearts 0:0 Kotoko
Kotoko 1:1 Hearts
2013 / 2014
Hearts 0:1 Kotoko
Kotoko 0:0 Hearts
2014 / 2015
Kotoko 0:1 Hearts 
Hearts 1:2 Kotoko