Since 2000 when Accra Hearts of Oak hammered their arch rivals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, to an incredible 4-0 scoreline in an epic league encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium, the Porcupine Warriors have been looking for an opportunity to give the Phobians a fitting reply.They came close to that dream in the 2005/2006 season, but that ambition floundered when the Phobians scored a consolation in the second half after Kotoko had taken a commanding 3-0 lead in another thrilling showdown at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
Subsequently, Kotoko have tried to exploit the seemingly struggling form of the Phobians to realise that huge ambition but it has often proved illusive.
In the wake of yet another encounter on Sunday at the Baba Yara Stadium, Opoku Nti, acting CEO of Kotoko, is supremely confident that the Oseikrom lads are on the threshold of that big demolition of the listless Phobian side lacking the spirit and confidence of old.
One-time midfield maestro, Opoku Nti, was a key actor as he scored a hat-trick in the drama in which the Porcupine Warriors secured an incredible 3-0 first half lead in the 1983 league season, only to surrender to the Phobians who scored four second half goals to run away as winners. After securing a third straight league title last week, Kotoko seem to have a certain conviction that the hour is nigh for their revenge mission in the penultimate week of the First Capital Plus Premier League.
Arguably, the current state of Hearts as a formidable force to battle odds on Sunday is doubtful, even though Coach Mohammed Polo could boast of players such as Nuru Sulley, Robin Gnagne and Owusu Bempah, one of the strongest backlines in the premiership today.
In contrast, Kotoko have a luxury of talented players, including Michael Akuffo, Richard Mpong, Aziz Yusif and Seidu Bancey, making Coach Mas-ud Dramani’s side favourites ahead of Sunday’s epic game.
But Kotoko’s dream of a 5-0 massacre of Hearts appears too huge an ambition with a generation of players that pale in comparison with the dreaded Hearts squad comprising Ishmael Addy, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, Charles Taylor, Edmund Copson and Joe Ansah, who achieved that 4-0 demolition act two decades after Kotoko had secured a 3-0 thrashing of the Phobians.
In the rest of the encounters, Liberty Professionals host Ashgold at the Carl Reindorf Park at Dansoman in a battle of survival; New Edubiase United, in another survival mission, face Wa All Stars at the Gyamfi Park at Bekwai, Inter-Allies play Aduana Stars at the Tema Stadium, Sekondi Hasaacas clash with relegation-threatened Ebusua Dwarfs at the Sekondi Stadium at Essipon, Bechem United are at home to Medeama SC at the Bechem Park, Berekum Chelsea face Amidaus Professionals at the Golden City Park, while Heart of Lions take on King Faisal at the Kpando Park
