MTN FA Cup semis...Wa All Stars to dump Hearts of Oak?
The Obuasi Len Clay Stadium may be the final destination for any of the four teams left to challenge for the MTN FA Cup as a double header semi-final matches are scheduled for the venue.
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At 3:00pm on Sunday, Hearts of Oak will face Wa All Stars, with Asante Kotoko playing Medeama FC in the second game at 6:00pm.
And ahead of their clash, Wa All Stars’ captain, Hafiz Adams, has cautioned Hearts to be prepared to say their goodbyes so far as this season’s competition is concerned as he and his teammates will be out to end their dream of being in the final.
Hafiz believes the Len Clay Stadium presents them with a neutral venue and a fine opportunity to avenge the 1-2 loss they suffered at the hands of the Phobians when they met at the Accra Sports Stadium last February in a Ghana Premier League (GPL) game.
“We lost to Hearts of Oak in the first round of the league and the FA Cup is a big payback time for us”, a confident Adams told The Mirror Sports last Tuesday, expressing the hope that his side will get to play in their first final.
That threat, though may be real, does not seem to be a bother to Hearts of Oak, who are equally confident about their chances against Wa All Stars, given their topsy turvy form this season.
With their players impressing in the just ended WAFU Cup tournament, Hearts are tipping Vincent Atinga, steadily establishing himself as a pillar in defence.
He will be out to prove to all, why he commanded a first team place in the Black Stars B team.
Atinga, together with his other teammates, Winful Cobbina, Thomas Abbey, Kwame Kizito and Patrick Razak have received plaudits for their role in helping Ghana win the WAFU Cup trophy, and similar performance would be expected of them when they storm the Len Clay Stadium.
Cobbina and skipper Abbey made it to the WAFU best XI, and though their fans believe their players need some rest from the very demanding two-week competition, this game means so much to Frank Nuttall that he can’t risk resting the quartet.
Coach Nuttall is keen on ending his first season with the Rainbow club with a trophy, so despite their tired legs, he is will include them in his team to ensure that he has a strong side that will call the bluff of Wa All Stars.
The two sides reached this point on contrasting notes, Hearts earning slim 1-0 wins over Young Wise and Danbort, while All Stars recorded emphatic 2-1 win over Samartex as well as beating Berekum Chelsea 2-0.
Despite their not so impressive season in the league, Wa All Stars seem to have struck the right cord in the MTN FA Cup and Sunday’s game against Hearts is another chance to have a slice at history of playing in their first MTN FA Cup final.
The game between the two former champions, Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Medeama is too close to call given that they both have the experience to edge the other out.
Kotoko began their campaign on a jerky note, but they have made it thus far and the clash with Medeama could be a fine opportunity to announce thier determination to win the trophy for the second time.
However, they should brace themselves up for a fight against Tarkwa-based Mauve Boys.