Hearts Not There Yet

Accra Hearts of Oak are within a point of being declared the 2006/07 Onetouch Premier League Champions. However the final stretch of that road could be littered with romps and a huge roadblock.

Two crucial encounters could pose an unforgettable threat to the realisation of that dream, the coronation of which has been fixed for Sunday, April 29.

The first obstacle is the Swedru hurdle this Sunday with a familiar date against Gamba All Blacks, and the second, a home fiesta with bogey side, Berekum Arsenal, at the Dansoman Park the following week.

Hearts are seeking just a point from the maximum six points to topple their archrivals, Asante Kotoko, as defending champions, but the two duels may as well be slippery.

There were contrasting results in the first round when Hearts won 1-0 against All Blacks at the Ho Stadium and lost by the same scoreline against Arsenal at Berekum. This could provide a clue to the outcome of the deciders.

Hearts head coach, Mitko Dobrez, who, until the club's last two victories had his job on the line, is suddenly upbeat of being the first expatriate coach to deliver the title into the hands of the Phobians.

Significantly, his first assignment on arrival was against All Blacks where he gave Hearts their first victory in the premiership, and his penultimate match against the same side could just give the league title to Hearts.

But the real battles in this weekend's round of matches are games involving Power, Bofoakwa, Feyenoord, King Faisal and RTU who must win to escape relegation.

King Faisal may have an edge in these episodes and could unleash a venom on powerless Power at the Sunyani Coronation Park, while RTU could have their situation worsened with an away game against Championship hopefuls, Ashgold.

Asante Kotoko are on a mission to salvage their image with a crucial game against Arsenal at Berekum, and another next Sunday at home with Accra Great Olympics.

On the fringes of the critical games, Heart of Lions host Liberty Professional at the Kpando Park, Real Sportive are set to punish Bofoakwa at the Robert Menah Stadium at Cape Coast, Tema Youth engage Feyenoord, also at the Cape Coast Stadium (Saturday), while Olympics play Sekondi Hasaacas at the Ho Stadium.