Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s task in their quest to consolidate their position on the league log faces a huge test on Sunday when they host Medeama who last season stormed the Garden City and frustrated the Porcupine Warriors in a scoreless match that recorded rowdy scenes at the stadium.
Medeama followed it up with victory over Kotoko in the MTN FA Cup final in Accra.
Sunday’s game at the Baba Yara Stadium promises to be uncompromising as Kotoko seek their pound of flesh against their Tarkwa-based opponents who are placed fourth on the league log.
And with the revival of strikers Seidu Bancy and Yahaya Mohammed, the home side will have enough firepower to deal with the potential threat from the FA Cup holders who are yet to lose an away match this season.
Accra Hearts of Oak coach, Mohammed Polo, will need to conjure yet another piece of his soccer magic on Sunday to consolidate his new role as technical head of the Phobian outfit in yet another gruelling undertaking at the Len Clay Stadium at Obuasi where they take on Aduana Stars in a home encounter due to Hearts’ ban from the Accra Stadium.
The dribbling magician, as Polo was fondly referred to during his illustrious playing career, is looking for another victory to re-energise Hearts title chase and also win over the club’s followers who initially expressed misgivings at the unceremonious exit of Coach David Duncan.
Until his surprising dismissal, Duncan’s philosophy of the game had been well assimilated by his young players who resisted the scourge of relegation last season, ultimately survived the turbulence and shot the themselves to a respectable fifth position.
Despite Polo’s assurance that the Phobian dream remains on course with a 1-0 win over Ebusua Dwarfs in Cape Coast last Sunday, the Hearts legend will aim at keeping the team’s winning spirit in only his second match in charge, but he needs to surmount the rigorous test of character from six-placed Aduana. Two Aduana players, Godfred Saka and goalkeeper Stephen Adams, both transfer targets of the Phobians during the off-season, would certainly prove unyielding in what is a neutral ground for the combatants.
In their entire existence in the elite league, Aduana have never won any duel against the Phobians in Accra, but the shift of Hearts’ home venue to Obuasi seems to have provided a level playing ground for the Dormaa-Ahenkro lads to seek a famous win over the Phobians.
In other matches this weekend, New Edubiase United host Ebusua Dwarfs at Bekwai, Inter Allies face Amidaus Professionals in Tema, King Faisal play Hasaacas at Sekondi, Ashgold face Bechem United in Bechem, Berekum Chelsea welcome Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals at the Berekum Golden City Park, while All Stars host Heart of Lions in Wa.
