Can the Phobia Bird fly over the Porcupine?

Former continental club masters Accra Hearts of Oak travels to the garden city to face their bitter rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Stadium in top-of-the-table clash in the Glo premiership week 24.

The phobian's have never lost a second round game to Kotoko in Kumasi in which the first round encounter ended in a goalless in Accra since 1958 but the Porcupine Warriors have also not lost any match to Hearts in the month of April.

The red army is chiefly leading the league with 49 points whiles Hearts on the other hand is third on the log with 39 points the same as Ashantigold who is second due to the head-to-head rule system. At one stage, a month ago, I thought the phobians were down and dusted but they have suddenly come back. Hearts were seriously wobbling at the beginning of the second round and the team almost capitulated but C.K Akunnor's presence seems to be adding some aroma to their flare.

Both Hearts and Kotoko swept aside their opponent last Sunday. The Porcupine Warriors travelled to the Tarkwa T&A Park to beat glued-at-the-bottom Wassaman by 3 – 1 whilst the Phobians brushed aside All Stars by three unanswered goals.

The Baba Yara Stadium has become a fortress to many clubs this season and the fabulous boys would not like to exclude the phobians who claims to be the 'Landlords of Baba Yara'.

Both teams have got loads of young talented players coming through which is good for our local game but Hearts have got a secret in former Black Stars winger Laryea Kingston because he doesn't panic under pressure. Every pass from 'Bro Laryea' carries a lot of weight for the phobians in the attacking third.

However Coach Maxwell Konadu has always got a secret in his 'Midfield Russian Tanker', Michael Anaba who has proven beyond all reasonable doubts that there's no gain begging players in Europe to feature for our various national teams.

Both Coaches have tasted our local league as players before and knows the inside out of the league. C.K Akunnor came into the lime light two years ago when he and Odartey Lamptey took the bench for Sekondi Hassacas but Maxwell Konadu has also become a pedestrian name since he took charge of the Porcupine Warriors.

The match will certainly be hot but Hearts generally have the hex over Kotoko at the garden city and I think the story will not be different time.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

KOTOKO - HEARTS
Soulama Abdoulaye - Philemon McCarthy
Yaw Frimpong - Kwesi Bobbie Ansah
Abdul Baba Rahman - Soulama
Ohene Brenya - Kofi Agyare
Awal Mohammed - Michael Osei Bonsu
Daniel Nii Adjei - Moro Abubakar
Ben Acheampong - Edward Affum
Michael Anaba - Laryea Kingston
Ahmed Toure - Samuel Affum
Kofi Nti Boakye - Sadat Abubakar
Michael Akuffo - Mahatma Otoo

At the Berekum Golden City Park, African Champions League campaigners Chelsea will welcome New Edubiase United. The defending league champions is fourth on the ladder with 36 points whereas Edubiase is fifth on the log with 34 points.

Edubiase has the secret of stopping the big guys especially their goal poacher Emmanuel Baffoe who leads the goal king chart with eighteen goals but the home side is also poised for victory.

Soccer Miners, Ashantigold travels to the Habour City to play Tema Youth at the Tema Community 3 Park. Ashantigold is second on the table with 39 points whiles Tema Youth is twelfth with 25 points.

Ashantigold's invincibility in the second round was quashed by Berekum Arsenals in their outstanding 23rd week match at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium when the two sides settled for a 1 – 1 drawn game. This has suddenly given Tema Youth the hope of claiming the maximum three points.

At the Carl Reindorf Park in Dansoman, scientific soccer lads Liberty Professionals will play as host to Kpando Hearts of Lions. Liberty Professionals is seventh on the log with 34 points whiles Hearts of Lions is eleventh with 28 points.

Matches between these two sides have always been hard fought and this one is not going to be anything different as Lions is gradually slipping on the log. Coach Sarpong has transformed his side and would like to maintain their winning form but Lions can cause a surprise in this match.

All Stars will engage Tudu Mighty Jets at the Wa Park. All Stars is eighth on the log with 33 points whiles Mighty Jets is still stacked in the relegation zone with 22 points and on the 13th position.

At the Tarkwa T&A Park, Medeama SC will welcome Bechem united. The home side is ninth on the table with 32 points whiles the visitors are fifteenth with 20 points.

Embattled mysterious Ebusua Dwarfs will play as host to Wassaman united at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium. Dwarfs are tenth on the table with 28 points whiles Wassaman is sixteenth with 19 points.

At the Osahene Agyeman Badu Park in Dormaa, Aduana Stars will welcome Berekum Arsenals. Aduana is sixth on the log with 34 points whiles Arsenal is fourteenth with 21 points. Aduana looks stronger to carry the day but playing Arsenal at this stage of the season in any part of the Brong Ahafo region is more difficult than playing the top sides.

PREDICTIONS

KOTOKO 1 – 2 HEARTS
CHELSEA 2 – 0 NEW EDUBIASE
T. YOUTH 1 – 0 ASHANTIGOLD
ALL STARS 1 – O M. JETS
LIBERTY 1 – 1 LIONS
MEDEAMA 2 – 0 BECHEM
DWARFS 2 – 1 WASSAMAN
ADUANA 1 – 1 ARSENAL

By: El-Amisty Nobo/Freelance Journalist