GPL Matchweek 10 Preview: Aduana FC lock horns with Asante Kotoko in battle for first place; Hearts of Oak face Bechem United
Table toppers Aduana FC will face defending champions Asante Kotoko at the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park on New Year’s Day in a battle for first place. Asante Kotoko will also come in the game on the back of a 2-1 victory against Berekum Chelsea at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
With 6 wins, 1 draw and two defeats in the League, Aduana FC sits at top of the League table with 19 points – two points richer than their opponents after nine round of matches. The Dormaa based side have won 3 and lost 2 of their last five games and hold a two-point advantage in the race for the title.
Asante Kotoko are currently second in the log with 5 wins, two draws and 2 losses and have managed 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss in their last five games. The last time porcupines visited Dormaa, they walked away with all the three points following a 2-0 win during the era of Dr. Proper Nartey Ogam.
In their last four meetings, Aduana FC have recorded one victory with Kotoko also having a win to their credit as the other two games have ended in a draw.
The likes of Derrick Afeson, Sam Adams, Joseph Addo, Emmanuel Gyamfi are all available for selection whiles Yussif Mubarick, Geoges Mfegue, Steven Mukwala and Justice Blay look set to start for Kotoko. The Reds are without Sherif Mohammed, Danlad Ibrahim and Augustine Agyapong – the trio are on national duty with the Black Galaxies in Egypt.
Legon Cities are chasing a third consecutive win in all competitions when they welcome Karela United away from home at the WAFA Park in Sogakope on Friday.
The Royals are confident as they head into the tie on the back of an impressive 3-0 win over Kotoku Royals in Matchweek 9.
Legon Cities will have to cope without three players who are on a national assignment with the Black Galaxies in preparations for the 2023 CHAN tournament in Algeria next month.
Karela United are 15th on the table and are flirting with relegation being just two points above the relegation zone.
Berekum Chelsea will face Bibiani Gold Stars in the betPwa Premier League at the Golden City Park on Saturday.
Gold Stars are currently in the top four with four wins and one draw in their last five games. Berekum Chelsea have won once in their last five games – (lost three and drawn one) and currently sit 10th whiles Gold Stars are 4th with 16 points.
Berekum Chelsea will miss Henry Ansu but have quality players to step in for the Black Galaxies midfielder. Lord Amoah, goalkeeper Obeng Sekyere Gregory and the League’s top scorer Mezack Afriyie are all available for selection.
For Bibiani Gold Stars striker Ibrahim Laar who has scored four goals is a toast of town and much is expected of him in this encounter. They also have Evans Owusu and Prince Kwabena Owusu compliment Laar upfront.
In another match on Saturday, Tamale City clashes with Accra Great Olympics at the Aliu Mahama Stadium. The newly promoted side have won just a game this season with four draws and four losses and currently sit in 17th place with 7 points after 9 weeks of matches in the betPawa Premier League.
Accra Great Olympics are winless in their last two games against Berekum Chelsea and Aduana FC and occupies the 7th place in the League log. Tamale City have won once in their last five games, drawn three and lost one in the process.
The Dade boys will miss the services of defender Solomon Adomako, forward Abdul Razak Yussif and midfielder Razak Kasim due to national assignment whiles the likes of Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Oko Grippman and Amos Acheampong are available for selection.
Tamale City will have Isaac Mensah, Issah Nyanbila and Samuel Baah Nuako all available for the game.
King Faisal and Nsoatreman FC are tipped to deliver a thrilling game as both sides meet at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Both sides lost will come into the game in search of a win after losing their previous matche. Nsoatreman FC are winless on the road whiles King Faisal have recorded just three wins with two achieved at home and one in an away encounter. King Faisal are 16th in the League as Nsoatreman FC occupies the 9th spot with four wins, four losses and one draw.
Abednego Tetteh, Godfred Asiamah and Joseph Gordon are available for King Faisal whiles Baba Mahama, Stephen Diyou, Richard Akrofi and Ushau Abu will be avaliable selection for Nsoatreman.
Samartex 1996 will host Dreams FC at the Nsenkyire Sports complex on Sunday. The newly promoted side drew 1-1 with Accra Lions at the Sogakope WAFA Park in week 9 and will be hoping to continue with their unbeaten run in their last three game whiles Dreams – who won their first game after six attempts aim for a good result to improve their position in the League.
Real Tamale United will also battle bottom placed Kotoku Royals at the Aliu Mahama stadium. Real Tamale United lost their last game 1-0 to Bibiani Gold Stars and will hope to improve on their last form. The Tamale lads are 11th in the League while Kotoku Royals lie rock bottom and gone five matches without a win.
On Sunday, Medeama SC will host Accra Lions at the Akoon Park in Tarkwa. Medeama SC have won one in their last five games, lost two and drawn two and are currently 11th in the table with 11 points. The mauves and yellows have parted with Coach David Duncan and head into the match with a stop gap Coach Umar Abdul Rabi.
Accra Lions are winless in their last five games but are 5th in the League log with 16 points. Accra Lions have won five, lost three and drawn one in the League as they have registered (two wins, two losses and one draw in their last five games).
Medeama SC will have to cope without left back Benjamin Abaidoo who is with the Black Galaxies but will have Kofi Asmah, Kwasi Donsu and Darlington Gyan Fosu Appiah available for selection. For Accra Lions, Dominic Nsobila is not available for selection but the likes of Hagan Frimpong, Fredrick Asante and Andrews Owusu will be available for Coach Ibrahim Tanko.
In the last game of Week 10 on Monday, Accra Hearts of Oak will take on Bechem United in a feisty encounter away from home at the Cape Coast Stadium.
The Phobians are unbeaten in their last eight games after the Aduana loss on Matchday 1 whiles Bechem United have recorded one away victory this season against Dreams FC – a game which ended 2-1 at the theatre of Dreams at Dawu.
Hearts of Oak will go into the game without their captain Gladson Awako, defenders Konadu Yiadom and Dennis Korsah, forward Daniel Barnieh Afriyie who are currently with the Black Galaxies but an opportunity for the likes of Salifu Ibrahim, Amankwah Baafi, Asante Yeboah and Zakari Yakubu to shine. Bechem United will miss the services of their goalkeeper Abdulai Iddrisu who is also with the Galaxies.
Hearts of Oak have enjoyed success at the Cape Coast Stadium keeping an unbeaten run at the venue with their last game in Cape Coast ending in a 1-0 win against Kotoku Royals.