Kotoko to be crowned Champs

DESPITE the ugly scene that nearly marred the rather peaceful 2005 GT Premier League match at the Tamale Kaladan Park last Sunday, all is now set for the championship cup to be won by the deserving title holders after the closing league fixture at the various centres this weekend.

Whilst declaring the league champions would be an easy job for the Ghana Football Association, the solution to the crowd violence that led to the RTU/Kotoko match being abandoned in the closing minutes at Tamale, must be a worrying issue for the FA.

And at the time of going to press, the GFA were yet to come out with a decision on the Disciplinary Committee's report which explicitly offers league leaders Asante Kotoko the advantage of being declared winners of the GT Premiership, in accordance with Article 35 (d) on Forfeiture of Matches.

It states that “the player (s) or supporter (s) of the team that initiates an act responsible for the abrupt end of a match,” shall be considered as having lost the match and “three points and three goals.”

But whether or not Kotoko are declared winners, the Porcupine Warriors are still 58 points ahead of traditional rivals Hearts of Oak who have 56 points. This, therefore, offers Kotoko the advantage of collecting the three points when they host Arsenals in Kumasi.

The Baba Yara Sports Stadium will certainly be a sea of Kotoko's red/white shirted fans, who are expected to fill every space at the stadium to cheer up their favourite club to not only win the game but most importantly become this season's league champions.

What will even make the celebration more significant is when the GFA declares Kotoko winners of their match against RTU. And in such a situation, the results of their match with Arsenals won't make any difference. For, whether lose or win Kotoko are going to be champions.

It is against this backdrop that the Hearts match with Ebusua Dwarfs at the Robert Mensah Stadium in Cape Coast would not affect the leadership position of their rivals, Kotoko. Hearts, therefore, need to win to remain in the Top Four contest.

King Faisal, who are also battling for the Top Four, must work harder to beat Bofoakwa Tano at Sunyani because the homesters still need to push further up in the table to avoid being harassed by the relegation threatened clubs. Okwawu United, still struggling against demotion to the lower division, must move heaven and earth to beat Sportive at Nkawkaw. Liberty Professionals are also tipped to beat visiting AshantiGold at the Dansoman Park in Accra. Heart of Lions are expected to beat RTU at their favourite Kpando Stadium whilst Power FC are likely to collect the points from Hasaacas at Tema. Bottom club Hotspurs will be singing their dirges when they play their last game at home against Feyenoord as they head for relegation into Division 1.