FA Cup thrills in Accra, Kumasi
Two appetising thrillers in Accra and Kumasi this Sunday — in typical MTN FA Cup-style — will take over the domestic soccer scene albeit temporarily as four determined semi-finalists intensify their search for greater glory and a booking for Africa.
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The highly-anticipated double header involving Accra Hearts of Oak and Medeama Sc in Kumasi and Asante Kotoko and Amidaus Professionals in Accra are shadow finals loaded with suspense and a promise to go to the wire.
In the absence of defending champions New Edubiase United, all four title chasers are desperately seeking to cut a slice of history by kissing the giant FA Cup for the first time since the revival of the competition two seasons ago.
No wonder Kotoko, Hearts and Medeama especially, have openly declared their intention to take a shot at the prestigious title and join the contemporary honours list.
What an interesting scenario: Kotoko are in the reckoning for a double, same as Tarkwa-based Medeama, while Hearts want the FA Cup badly to compensate their fans now that they are out of contention for the league title.
Interestingly, Medeama have a strong belief that this is their time to end the season with a major title and earn the right to go to Africa in the same way their ‘mates’ Berekum Chelsea and New Edubiase did it in previous seasons.
The situatioon on the ground makes Amidaus an outsider, but certainly not a pushover if their maiden campaign in the elite league is anything to go by. Surely, they will also be drawing strength from their sensational 2-0 victory over Kotoko in the same competition at Tema last season.
Trust Kotoko to breathe vengeance on their opponents who again forced them to open their league title defence this season with a barren draw in Kumasi.
The tale of vengeance can also apply in the Oseikrom duel as Hearts will seek to pay Medeama back for their 1-3 first round thrashing at the Accra Stadium of all places.
Whether the games would be decided in regulation time, extra time or penalties, only time will determine the two clubs who will storm Accra for the grand final on June 15.
