Tricky for Kotoko at Tumu : Hearts face Sarmatex threat
Football-loving fans at Tumu in the Sissala East District capital of in the Upper West Region, who have heard a lot about Kumasi Asante Kotoko over the years but have not watched the team play physically in their lifetime, will have a feel of the great club when they play Tumu-based Real 24 Hours FC at the Tumu Park tomorrow in an MTN FA Cup round of 32 fixture.
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Aside their off-the-field troubles regarding the ‘stepping aside’ of Coach David Duncan, Kotoko’s clash with the Tumu side has been charactersied by a heated debate over the venue, compelling the FA Cup Committee (FACC) and the Club Licencing Board (CLB) to pass a quick judgment for Kotoko to honour the match tomorrow as scheduled.
While Kotoko expressed concern about the poor nature of the Tumu pitch and, therefore, requested for the game to be moved to Wa, the FACC stood its ground and later received an endorsement from the CLB, which stated in a letter to Kotoko last Wednesday that the Tumu park fell within the minimum requirement for such a match.
Even before the final verdict, officials of Real 24 Hours came out to say tickets for the game had already been sold out and that they were eagerly awaiting Kotoko to show them the exit from the competition.
In the ensuing confusion, a delegation from Tumu purportedly called on the FA president Kwesi Nyantaki, to impress upon him to ensure that the match was not shifted from Tumu to Wa since the local football fans were ready to patronise the match and catch a glimpse of their ‘heroes’ from Oseikrom.
Whether Kotoko, whose main sponsor, MTN, doubles as the headline sponosr for the FA Cup, had a genuine concern or were merely playing a mind game would be determined at the ‘famous’ Tumu park tomorrow.
Kotoko qualified for the round of 32 by the skin of their teeth after surviving a penalty shootout against another Division Two side, AK Shion. And guided by that experience, Real 24 Hours FC could be in for trouble.
Wa All Stars, who are presently leading the seven-week old Ghana Premier League, welcome fellow Premier League contenders Techiman City in the only premiership affair at the Wa Park on Sunday.
Techiman City have so far sent a strong signal to the other Premier League clubs since their arrival in the elite division this season and, therefore, Wa All Stars cannot afford to slip where they have their pride to protect as league leaders.
Kotoko’s rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak, led by their Japanese-American coach, Kenichi Yatsuhashi, trek to Samreboi in the Western Region to play Division One Samartex FC. Hearts, who are currently faring better than Kotoko, are favourites in this encounter, though complaceny can cost them.
Bechem United will also play host to Sunyani Liberty Babies at Bechem on Sunday, while Emmanuel FC play Inter-Allies at Kweiman. Essipon fans will not be left out either as Sekondi Hasaacas sort it out with Okyeman Planners FC from Akyem Tafo, and Okwawu United battle Dunkwa FC at the Nkawkaw Park. RTU will also lock horns with Steadfast FC in Tamale,
Tomorrow’s matches have Liberty Professionals, the nemesis of defending MTN FA Cup holders, Medeama SC, playing TT Brothers’ Purejoy FC at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence at Prampram; True Democracy and Accra Youth FC clash in an all Division Two affair at the Tema Stadium, Storm Academy play Kotoku Royals at Nkawkaw, AC Milan versus Wamanafo Mighty Royals at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, WAFA host Karela United at Sogakope, and Wa Rockets FC versus Power SC at Wa.
Meanwhile, Elmina Sharks, 2-0 winners over Great Astronomers last Wednesday, will again be at home to Ebusua Dwarfs on Sunday at the Nduom Stadium at Elmina.
