Will it be Hearts, Kotoko final?
Will the June 15 MTN FA Cup in Accra final be a straight fight between Hearts-Kotoko, Kotoko-Medeama, Hearts-Amidaus or Medeama-Amidaus? Take it or leave it, one of these options will emerge after tomorrow’s thrilling FA Cup semi-finals in Accra and Kumasi.
Surely, Medeamasc and Amidaus Professionals are the underdogs against the giants, Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko respectively, but they are far from giving up the fight as the smaller clubs still fancy their chances.
Many see Hearts and Medeama to be allies of a sort, but the Tarkwa-based team are in no mood to compromise their ambition to win a major title this season with the ‘friendship’ theory.
Fact is, Medeama are under pressure to win either the Premier league or the FA cup, or both, to please their sponsors, Gold Fields Ghana Limited and Ghana Manganese Company (GMC), and can therefore not toy with any opportunity to beat Hearts in Kumasi tomorrow.
Similarly, the Phobians are determined to win the FA Cup title to justify the huge investment made by the Board Chairman, Togbe Afede XIV, after blowing yet another chance to add to their league collection.
Regrettably, Coach David Duncan is going to miss his goal poacher, Mahatma Otoo, who is on national duty, but he sees that as an opportunity to give other potentials such as Winful Cobbinah, Gilbert Fiamenyo, Moro Abubakar, Ashitey Ollenu, Owusu Bempah and others the chance to prove themselves.
Medeama’s unsung Coach Evans Adotey is also presented with a unique opportunity to make a name for himself with the likes of Tanko Mohammed, Theophilus Anobaah, Joseph Gordon, Godfred Rockson, Victor Ayireh, Jacob Apau and others at his disposal.
For Kotoko, playing at the Accra Stadium is more often than not even more comfortable than playing in Kumasi, which is why they believe Amidaus cannot deny them the chance to pick the new MTN FA Cup trophy for the third time in a row.
In 2011, Kotoko lost the final narrowly to Nania FC, while the same Amidaus (then in Division One) eliminated them in the Round of 16 with a 2-0 thrashing.
Perhaps this is the right time for Coach Mas-ud Didi Draman’s boys to settle old scores with the Tema-based club who will be led by Yahaya Mohammedwho was loan to Amidus from Kotoko.
It will be fireworks in both Accra and Kumasi, with the rates being GH¢3, GH¢5, GH¢10 and GH¢20. Children under 10 years and ladies can watch the games free, courtesy the FA Cup Committee (FACC) chaired by Lepowura Alhaji M.N.D. Jawula.
Preview: Samuel Ebo Kwaitoo