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GPL PREVIEW: Hearts seek revenge, Ashgold, Kotoko set for thriller

By Kweku Arhin
League Report GPL PREVIEW: Hearts seek revenge, Ashgold, Kotoko set for thriller
FEB 26, 2017 LISTEN

Revenge will be the main meal on the menu as Hearts of Oak to look to kickstart their campaign against Wa All Stars. The defending champions humbled the Phobians 3-1 in their own backyard last season, a result which by and large deflated the Phobians and gave the Wa side the ascendency en route to their historic Premier League triumph.

The Len Clay stadium is expected to provide a spectacle as Ashantigold take on Kotoko. The last fixture provided an 8 goal thriller and fans will be expectant for more. A Bono derby will be played in Bechem as Bechem United will look to get their first points on the board against Berekum Chelsea.

New entrants Bolga All Stars play their first ever home game against Great Olympics hoping to get their first win and while winless Inter Allies hope to get off the mark against Dwarfs.

Liberty host Medeama in Dansoman while Elmina Sharks play Tema Youth but before that, high flying Aduana Stars will have a real test to their 100% record as they face their enterprising and exuberant WAFA in Sogakope.


GAME DAY STATS:
BECHEM UNITED VS BEREKUM CHELSEA
* The 2016-17 season of the Ghana Premier League which is the 23rd edition since the inception of the competition on 19th December, 1993 is the 5th appearance for Bechem United while it is the 9th appearance for Berekum Chelsea.

* Bechem United are WINLESS in the on going Ghana Premier League with two outstanding games.

L1 GF0 GA1
* Bechem United and Berekum Chelsea are meeting for the first time in first round @ the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park* in the GPL since 2011.

* Berekum Chelsea yet to WIN @ Bechem United HOME grounds in the Ghana Premier League since 2011.

* Bechem Utd yet to CONCEDE/DRAW/LOSE Day 4 HOME game in the GPL since 2011.

2014-15 Bechem Utd 1-0 Hearts
W1 GF1 GA0
ASHANTIGOLD VS ASANTE KOTOKO
* The last time Asante Kotoko won @ AshGold HOME grounds in the GPL is 26th Sept. 2010 in match Day 4 in the 2010-11 season (0-1).

* AshGold (Goldfields) yet to LOSE Day 4 HOME game in the GPL since 1999.

2000 Goldfields 1-0 Kessben
2005 AshGold 1-1 Arsenal
2007-08 AshGold 2-2 Arsenal
2012-13 AshGold 3-1 Amidaus
W2 D2 GF7 GA4
* AshGold have CONCEDED in all their last 3 games played in Day 4 in the GPL since 2005.

* AshGold (Goldfields) have met Asante Kotoko ONCE in match Day 4 HOME in the 2000 season in the GPL since 2000.

29/03/00 Goldfields 1-0 Kotoko

ACCRA HEARTS OF OAK VS WA ALL STARS
* Hearts of Oak have so far kept 213 CLEAN SHEETS out of 497 games in the GPL since 1999.

* Wa All Stars have so far kept 122 CLEAN SHEETS out of 265 in the GPL since 2007.

* Hearts of Oak have won the Ghana League title on 19 occasions since the competition started in 1958.

* Wa All Stars won the Ghana Premier League title with 51 points in the 2015-16 season and they remain the 11th and last new club so far to win the title.

* Hearts of Oak worse performance in the Ghana League since the competition started in 1958 is 13th with 40 points in the 2014-15 season.

* All Stars worse performance in the Ghana Premier League since 2007 is 12th with 39 points in the 2010-11 season.

* Accra Hearts of Oak are currently 9th with 3 points after Day 3 games while Wa All Stars on the other hand are 14th with 0 point with three outstanding games on the Ghana top-flight log.

ELMINA SHARKS VS TEMA YOUTH
* Elmina Sharks are yet to keep CLEAN SHEET out of 2 games in the on going Ghana Premier League.

* Tema Youth have so far kept 37 CLEAN SHEETS out of 152 games in the GPL since 2006.

* Tema Youth Best position in the Ghana Premier League is 5th with 44 points in the 2007-08 season.

* Tema Youth have been relegated on 2 occasions in the Ghana Premier League since 2006 (2008-09 & 2012-13).

* Elmina Sharks are 12th with 1 point after Day 3 games while Tema Youth on the other hand are 6th with 4 points and all 2 clubs have one outstanding each on the Ghana top-flight log.

BOLGA ALL STARS VS GREAT OLYMPICS
* Bolga All Stars are yet to keep CLEAN SHEET out of 2 games in the on going Ghana Premier League.

* Great Olympics have so far kept 90 CLEAN SHEETS out of 286 games in the GPL since 1999.

* Great Olympics have won the Ghana league title on 2 occasions since the competition started in 1958 (1970 & 1974).

* Great Olympics have been relegated on 4 occasions since the competition started in 1958 (2004, 2007-08, 2009-10 & 2014-15).

* Bolga All Stars are 16th with 0 point after Day 3 games while Great Olympics on the other hand are 13th with 1 point with one outstanding on the Ghana top-flight log.

LIBERTY PROFESSIONALS VS MEDEAMA
* The last AWAY side to prevent Liberty Prof. from scoring @ HOME in the GPL is WAFA who secured goal-less drawn game on 21st Aug. 2016 in match Day 26 in the 2015-16 season.

* Liberty Prof. have so far kept 165 CLEAN SHEETS out of 497 games in the GPL since 1999.

* Medeama (Kessben) have so far kept 82 CLEAN SHEETS out of 273 games in the GPL since 2007.

* Liberty Professionals Best position in the GPL since 1999 is 3rd with 48 points in the 2002 season.

* Medeama (Kessben) Best position in the Ghana premier league since 2007 is 3rd with 50 points in the 2012-13 season.

* Liberty Professionals worse performance in GPL since 1999 is 13th in the 2009-10 and 2015-16 with 38 points in both seasons.

* Medeama (Kessben) worse performance in the Ghana premier league since 2007 is 11th in the 2013-14 & 2014-15 seasons with 40 and 41 points respectively.

* Liberty Professionals are currently 5th with 3 points after Day 3 games while Medeama on the other are 3rd with 4 points on the Ghana top-flight log.

INTER-ALLIES VS EBUSUA DWARFS
* The last AWAY side to prevent Inter-Allies from scoring @ HOME in the GPL is Hearts of Oak who secured goal-less drawn game on 13th Feb. 2017 in match Day 1 in the 2016-17 season.

* Inter-Allies have kept 34 CLEAN SHEETS out of 93 games in the GPL since 2013.

* Ebusua Dwarfs have kept 69 CLEAN SHEETS out of 213 games in GPL since 1999.

* Inter-Allies Best position in the GPL since 2013 is 6th with 42 points in the 2014-15 season.

* Ebusua Dwarfs have won the 1967 Ghana league title which was played on knock-out bases. Dwarfs won the tournament through toss of coin, after drawing 1-1 on two occasions with Sekondi Eleven Wise in the final.

* Inter-Allies worse performance in the GPL since 2013 is 12th with 38 points in the 2015-16 season.

* Ebusua Dwarfs have been relegated on 6 occasions since the competition started in 1958 (1981, 1985-86, 1989-9, 2000, 2005 & 2013-14).

* Inter-Allies are currently 11th with 2 points after Day 3 games while Ebusua Dwarfs on the other hand are 7th with 4 points on the Ghana top-flight log.

STATS BY: Isaac Amponsah (Dr Ike), Director of Communications for Berekum Chelsea FC and Bright Yeboah Taylor of Adehye3 FM

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