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13.01.2012 Opinion

Battle for Supremacy Continues as GPL Enters Last Matches

By El-Amisty Nobo - pinkfmonlinegh.com
Battle for Supremacy Continues as GPL Enters Last Matches
13.01.2012 LISTEN

The battle for who emerges as the supremo continues this weekend as the Glo Premier League enters it ultimate stage of the first round in all eight centre's as Berekum Chelsea battles with Aduana Stars in a local derby.

The defending champions Berekum Chelsea would like to earn the bragging right as the Kings of the Brong Ahafo region haven't already defeated Arsenals last week at the Golden City Park when they come face to face with former African Champions League campaigners Aduana Stars.

Chelsea is third on the table with 24 points whiles Aduana on the other hand is sixth with 22 points. When it comes to materials Chelsea are very rich but their problem has always been the mode of selection for their starting line up but Aduana have an all round team who are always ready to fight for the club.


On paper, the defending champions look favorite to carry the three points at stake but Aduana could surprise them on the counter if Chelsea should fail to provide an antidote to their counter attacking game.

At the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, the 'Porcupine Warriors', Kumasi Asante Kotoko will play as host to Medeama Sporting Club. The Osei Krom lads is going into this encounter with enough moral boost as they ended their away win drought last Wednesday when they defeated Liberty Professionals by 2 - 1 at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Kotoko leads the log with 28 points whiles their opponent Medeama is seventh on the table with 21 points. Coach Maxwell Konadu scored 100% with his tactics when he centered his team around enterprising Micheal Anaba last Wednesday as his eye-catchy splitting passes neutralized Coach Sarpongs' Liberty midfield.

This particular encounter is strictly going to be a midfield battle where whoever captures the middle automatically carries the day. Both coaches prefer playing three strikers with one striking from deep and that's where Medeama could be dangerous because the Kotoko central defensive pair finds it difficult to contain too much pressure but the guys in red knows what is expected of them as a drop in point could cause their lead.


Glorious Accra Hearts of Oak will welcome Hearts of Lions to the Accra Sports Stadium. The phobians are second on the log with 26 points whiles Lions is eleventh with 18 points.

Despite the huge gab between the two sides, Hearts/Lions matches are always difficult to predict and this is not going to be exceptional. Hearts of Oak used to ride on Lions in some years back but the Kpando guys has won the bragging rights over Hearts in recent times and this game is going to decide who is who amongst the Hearts.

Hearts of Oak looks the favorite to carry the day as Mahatma Otoo looks to have found his lost scoring boots but Lions can spoil their party should the phobian defence fails to stand on their feet for 90 minutes and more.

At the Wa Park, All Stars will welcome the 'Scientific soccer lads' Liberty Professionals. All Stars is third on the table with 24 points but the visitors are eighth with 20 points.


Micheal Helegbe's absence in the Liberty midfield really caused their downfall in their match against Kotoko last Wednesday as they couldn't create enough scoring opportunities for the strikers. All Stars have a good home record and looks likely to maintaining their good home record.

New Edubiase united will play as host to soccer miners, Ashantigold at the Nana Gyamfi Park. Edubiase is likely to start with their dare devil striker Emmanuel Baffour who was dropped from Ghana's final 23 man squad for the 2012 AFCON.

The host is fifth on the table with 22 points whiles the visitors are twelfth with 17 points. Edubiase seems to be boneless without their live wire and his come back should be enough motivation for his colleagues to perform. Ashantigold have not been too impressive this season and needs to play above them to gain a point at the Nana Gyamfi Park.

At the Cape Coast Robert Mensah Stadium, Mysterious Ebusua Dwarfs will welcome the inform Tema Youth. Dwarfs until the league resumed from the Christmas break had not lost any match at their back yard but Liberty Professionals broke that jinx last Sunday when they won 3 – 0 at Cape Coast.


Dwarfs have one of the best defensive set ups in the league but the power upfront is not too convincing to scare most defence. Tema Youth are technically and tactically discipline and can add to Dwarf's woes if management fails to patch their indifferences. The host is tenth on the table with 19 points whiles the visitors are nineteenth with 19 points.

Mysterious Dwarfs should take the bull by the horn and go for nothing but a sweet victory before the break because a loose to Dwarfs at the Robert Mensah Stadium at time of the season could go a long way in affecting Dwarfs in the second round of the.

On Saturday in Accra, Mighty Jets will play as host to Berekum Arsenals at the Accra Sports Stadium. Mighty Jets are gradually leaving the relegation zone with sturdy and may push Arsenals further down the table as Arsenals have not been impressive this season and looks likely to join Bechem united and Wassaman to relegation.

At the Sekondi Stadium in Essipong, bottomed club Wassaman united will welcome their party partners Bechem united in a match dubbed 'Operation out of relegation'. Wassaman is sixteenth on the log with 8 points whiles the visitors are fourteenth with 11 points.


PREDICTIONS
Chelsea 2 – 1 Aduana
Kotoko 1 0 Medeama
Hearts 3 2 Lions
All Stars 1 0 Liberty
Edubiase 1 0 Ashantigold
Dwarfs 2- 0 Tema Youth
M. Jets 1 0 Arsenal
Wassaman 2 1 Bechem

By: El-Amisty Nobo

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