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29.11.2011 Opinion

Edubiase to Test Kotoko

29.11.2011 LISTEN
By El-Amisty Nobo/pinkfmonlinegh.com

New Edubiase United otherwise known as 'Yenko Nkoa' are going to put League leaders Kumasi Asante Kotoko into a serious test come tomorrow in their ninth week Glo Premier league clash at the Nana Gyamfi Park in Bekwai.

The Porcupine Warriors lie at the summit of the log with eighteen points and are being sprinting followed by defending league Champions Berekum Chelsea and Accra Hearts of Oak who are both on seventeen points each and loosing at Bekwai will mean loosing the top spot to either Chelsea or Hearts.

The Bekwai lads are currently on ninth position with twelve points and are bent on picking all the three maximum points at stake especially playing in front of their home supporters.

This match will certainly produce some goals from both sides. Kotoko's upfront to me, has been the most potent so far in the league but if their central defensive pair should leave their back unguarded then trust Emmanuel Baffour to put in a goal or two.


The real action will be at the Cape Coast Robert Mensah stadium where still unbeaten Mysterious Ebusua Dwarfs will play host to defending league champions Berekum Chelsea in a make or break affair.

Chelsea stands very tall above all the fifteen clubs in terms of materials but Dwarfs are one of the most technically and tactically discipline sides in the league so far and can cause any team in the league not exempting Chelsea.

Chelsea are yet to loose a match under Coach Van der Plyum who took charge over the team four weeks ago after sacking their substantive coach due to a painfully home defeat to Medeama SC but playing against the tricky Dwarfs especially at the Robert Mensah stadium where the fans will come in their numbers to cheer them up is a different ball game all together.

I think this match is going to end up in a draw with goals but if any team is going to win at all then Dwarfs are going to do their normal business at their favorite home grounds over the defending champions.

At the Accra Sports stadium, second placed Hearts of Oak will welcome former African Champions League campaigners Aduana Stars. The Phobian boys recorded their first victory in four years at the Wa Park last Sunday courtesy Mahatma Otoo's goal giving their supporters some level of hope to coming back to reclaim the top spot.

The Phobian's are very good in the middle and what is more, hard Knox Moro Abubakar and Thomas Abbey keeps improving match after match and these two middies have gradually become Coach Nebojsa Vucicevic's secret weapon to unlocking his opponent's midfield.

Hearts only problem had to do with their upfront where Mahatma Otoo needs someone to do the dirty work for him to penetrate but Raymond Darke's inclusion in their last match at Wa paid dividends to Coach Vucicevic and I'm convinced he'll do same tomorrow against Aduana Stars.

Aduana Stars have been relying on the prowess of their right fullback Godfred Saka to winning their matches but I wonder if they can do same against Hearts. Aduana are sixth on the table with thirteen points and I could feel defeat staring at their face in tomorrows encounter but if Saka should find his driving seat then they can pull a surprise.

Medeama SC will travel to Berekum to play as guest to Arsenal who are struggling to find their feet in the season. Arsenals are fourteenth on the log with just five points whilst Medeama on the other hand are eight with twelve points.

The last time Arsenal played at the Golden City Park, they had to settle for a drawn game with local rivals Aduana and their supporters will not take it cool if they should drop point again tomorrow against Medeama but Medeama are quite a strong side and will surely put Arsenals under a lot of pressure.

At the Kpando Park, Hearts of Lions will play against Tema Youth. Lions are tenth on the table with eleven points whilst Tema Youth are fifth from bottom with just seven points.

Lions are always favorites when playing at their home base and Tema Youth are not going to be spared at this point of the season where every team needs to gather maximum points in order to be saved.

At the Essipong Park, fifteenth placed Wassaman United will welcome sixth placed Wa All Stars. Wassaman could not find a breathing space in their last match at the Baba Yara stadium against league leaders Kotoko and will try to make amends in this match.

On the other hand, All Stars were also beaten at home by Hearts in their last match and are bent on taking all the three points at stake in this match but Wassaman looks likely to win this match.

Bottom club Bechem United will play as host to struggling Ashantigold at their newly established Bechem Park. Bechem United recorded their first ever victory in the season over Medeama SC last week to open their park and will be looking forward to doing same over Ashantigold come tomorrow.

The changing of the name Goldfields to Ashantigold seem to have some effect on the soccer miners because in some years back, Goldfields were one of the football power houses not only in Ghana but Africa as well when they had the likes of Nimbombo Wake, Koussi Nutodjie, Stephen Baidoo, Afo Dodoo, Sammy Adjei, Yaw Acheampong, Eben Hagan, Augustina Arhinful, Lawrence Adjei and the likes who were the core of our national teams.

If Bechem United will take their chances then they are certainly going to win their second match since joining the league and should Ashantigold on the other hand find their lost form then the story will be a different one at the Bechem Park.

On Thursday, Mighty Jets will welcome the Scientific Soccer lads, Liberty Professionals to the Accra Sports Stadium. Mighty Jets are thirteenth on the table whereas Liberty is fifth with thirteen points.

Loosing to Liberty will sink Mighty Jets further down the table thus gradually saying bye bye to the premier league but Liberty have also make some positive statement and will like to continue it come Thursday but the home team may run away with a slim victory.


PREDICTIONS

Bechem United 2 – 1 Ashantigold
Hearts of Lions 2 – 0 Tema Youth
Arsenals 1 – 0 Medeama
Hearts of Oak 2 – 0 Aduana Stars
Wassaman 1 – 0 All Stars
New Edubiase 2 – 2 Kotoko
Ebusua Dwarfs 3 – 2 Chelsea
Mighty Jets 1 – 1 Liberty

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