Hearts, Lions Open Top 4

Mahatma Otoo

Defending champions Heart of Lions and Hearts of Oak will open this year's Top 4 competition with a fierce battle at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium on Sunday.

Each club beat the other in their home matches when they clashed in the Glo Premiership last season, making Sunday's clash an uncompromising one.

Though Lions will be missing the services of some key players who were instrumental in their performance last season, they still have in their fold some crack players who will pose a threat for the Phobians.

New Hearts coach Paa Kwesi Fabin who was once the head coach of Lions, knows what the Kpando lads could do and would therefore map out a strategy to outwit his former assistant Orlando Wellington, current head coach of the Black Satellites.

Both sides are expected to feature some guest players, but Hearts will be counting on the exploits of Satellites captain Mahatma Otoo, who is on his way to Israel, Obed Ansah and defenders Karimu Alhassan and Philip Boampong, while the Lions would bank their hopes on midfielders Edmund Owusu Ansah and Dan Yeboah.

In the other match, league champions Aduana Stars will battle Ashgold at the Dormaa Agyemang Badu Park.

Ashgold would be hoping to avenge defeat after narrowly missing the league trophy, losing 0-1 to Aduana at Dormaa and drawing goalless at Obuasi.

In the second round of matches on Wednesday August 4, Hearts will trek to Dormaa to play Aduana Stars while Lions host Ashgold at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium.

The Top 4 is a special challenge tournament meant for teams in the top four of the premier league.

At the launch of the competition yesterday, the four teams pledged their support to play a competitive and incident-free tournament.

By Charles Nixon Yeboah