Ashantigold have no choice than to trek to the Sekondi Stadium at Essipong on Sunday to contend with title chasers Kumasi Asante Kotoko in their controversy-filled penultimate Glo Premier League clash. The soccer miners raised red flags earlier in the week, swearing fire and thunder never to honour the match at Essipon on the grounds of distance and cost, but the Ghana Football Association (GFA) stood its grounds, insisting that changing the venue would be tantamount to setting a bad precedent.
Subsequent to that, the chairman of the Premier League Board (PLB), Mr Welbeck Abra-Appiah, declared in no uncertain terms that all the eight week 29 league matches will be honoured on Sunday as scheduled.
“All the matches will be played on Sunday, and no match will be played ahead of others as is being rumoured,” the PLB boss emphasised to the Graphic Sports in an interview yesterday.
He explained that the request made by Ashantigold regarding change of venue had no basis in the GFA regulations while the PLB was also not required to ask the FA to commit funds to any club as demanded by ‘Aboakese’ lads to offset their travelling expenses from Obuasi to Essipong and back.
Going back memory lane, the PLB chairman recalled how Ashantigold were made to travel to Essipong to play Ebusua Dwarfs last season following the latter home ban, while Kotoko did not complain when they were asked to play Ashantigold at Berekum a few seasons back at a time the Obuasi-based club was also serving a home ban at the Len Clay Stadium.
With the controversy settled, the focus will now be on whether the soccer miners can really jolt the title chances of their regional rivals or not on neutral grounds. But having come so close to clinching their 22nd league title, Kotoko look highly motivated for another victory following important back-to-back wins over Heart of Lions and Amidaus Professionals over the last two weeks.
Berekum Chelsea, who are breathing hot on Kotoko’s neck hoping for a slip, also have a destiny date with Aduana Stars in their regional derby at the Golden City Park at Berekum.
Equally tight is the Cape Coast battle between another title dreamer, Medeama Sporting Club, and Ebusua Dwarfs, who are solid at home but face a side determined to claim maximum points at the Robert Mensah stadium.
Tema Youth’s fierce battle for survival will still be on when they contend with visiting King Faisal at the Tema Stadium, while fellow strugglers Kpando Heart of Lions seem to have the edge over bottom-placed RTU at Tamale.
At the Gyamfi Park at Bekwai, New Edubiase United have sworn to take their pound of flesh against Hearts of Oak; Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals will seek revenge against Amidaus Professionals at the Carl Reindorf Park, while Wa All Stars look set to sink Berekum Arsenal at Wa.
Preview: Samuel Ebo Kwaitoo
