Premier league kicks off as scheduled

Accra, April 17, GNA - The 2005 GT Premier league has kicked off as scheduled after some of the participating clubs had threatened in a joint stand not to play any match against Kumasi Asante Kotoko for boycotting the Coca Cola Top Four tournament. Eight matches were all played on Sunday at all the league centres with the two most glamorous clubs, Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko losing their opening matches. Kotoko lost their away match to Berekum Arsenals 2-1 while Hearts also lost 2-3 to visiting Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra. The teams earlier issued a joint statement saying that unless Kotoko apologised for abandoning the competition, they would not engage Kotoko in any friendly or competitive match as well as this year's premier league. The 15 clubs had been angered by a last-minute decision by Kotoko to discontinue play in their match against Kpando Heart of Lions after the referee had awarded a penalty against them in the dying minutes of the game and Real Tamale United had to take their place. The Clubs and the Ghana League Clubs Association, (GHALCA) after a series of wrangling finally ironed out their misunderstanding that ushered in the One Touch Gala competition that was won by Kotoko when they beat Ashantigold 5-4 in the penalty shoot-out.
Soccer is Ghana's number one spectacle and the passion of the nation, even though the West African country is currently struggling to qualify for the World Cup as they lie third in their zone.
Hearts 2-3 Dwarfs Arsenal 2-1 Kotoko Hasaacas 1-1 Power FC Feyenoord 1-0 Kade Hotspurs RTU 1-1 Heart of Lions Faisal 2-0 Bofoakwa AshGold 1-0 Liberty Sportive 0-0 Okwawu