Malta Guinness Women’s Premier League: Can Hasaacas Ladies, Ampem Darkoa fend off threat?
The Malta Guinness Women’s Premier League enters its eighth season this weekend but there have been only two clubs, Hasaacas Ladies and Ampem Darkoa Ladies, that have shared the titles between them.
This time, however, the 18 other clubs who make up the 20-team competition plan to ambush the perennial winners as the 2022-2023 season begins this weekend.
Advertisement
Although their CAF Champions League campaign did not go well as they had hoped for, defending champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies come into this campaign with an unfinished agenda and the hope that they will be able to return to Africa to complete that business.
However, they will have to yet again prove they are better than Dreamz Ladies, Fabulous Ladies, Ashtown Ladies, Supreme Ladies all based in Kumasi, as well as the Tamale-based Pearlpia, Northern and Super Ladies, not leaving out Prisons Ladies and new entrants, Dorma Candy’s Soccer Ladies.
In the southern zone, four times national champions, Hasaacas Ladies have their southern zone title under threat as the competing teams who have all revamped their squads -- Police Ladies, Faith Ladies, Army Ladies, Berry Ladies, Thunder Queens, Soccer Intellectuals and LadyStrikers as well as the two debutants, Ridge City FC and Essiam Socrates Ladies have vowed to end that dominance.
Except in 2017 when LadyStrikers topped the zone, Hasaacas Ladies have been the dominant force and despite having a relatively young side, they believe they are the side to beat.
Match Day 1
This this season Malta Guinness Women’s Premier League kicks off on Friday at the Aliu Mahama Stadium in Tamale with a clash between Pearlpia Ladies and Prisons Ladies.
In the northern zone, Pearlpia, Northern Ladies, Fabulous Ladies, Supreme Ladies, Ashtown Ladies, Prisons Ladies, Dreamz and debutants, Tamale Super Ladies and Dormaa Candy’s Soccer Ladies will try to wrestle the title from zonal record winners and national defending champions, Ampem Darkoa, who are also keen to retain the honours all the way to the top.
Rebuilding their team after losing most of their key and experienced players to foreign transfers, southern zone champions, Hasaacas Ladies will strive to also hold off the stern challenge from Faith Ladies, Police Ladies, Army Ladies, Thunder Queens, LadyStrikers, Soccer Intellectuals, Berry Ladies and the two new entrants, Ridge City FC and Essiam Socrates Ladies.
Results and outcomes of matches last season have already drawn the battle lines for this season and it will be interesting how the teams plot their revenges, repeats and escape strategies.
Key battles
On Saturday, Tamale Super Ladies will host Ashtown Ladies, Ampem Darkoa welcome Northern Ladies, Supreme are hosts to Candy Soccer Academy and Fabulous Ladies and Dreamz Ladies engaging in a local derby.
In the southern zone, the big game will be at the Gyandu Park where Berry Ladies trek face Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies, Thunder Queens are hosts to Police Ladies, LadyStrikers will welcome Army Ladies with Soccer Intellectuals also playing Faith Ladies.
At the Madina Park on Sunday, debutants, Ridge City and Essiam Socrates Ladies slug it out in the game selected to host the ceremonial kick off to usher in the season.
