I am a great optimist and I strongly believe I will be moderately wealthy before I die. But I suspect the Liverpool coach is a greater optimist than me. With the writing clearly on the wall that Manchester United are heading for their hat-trick Premier league success, Benitez still feels by some twist of circumstances Liverpool can win the cup even with three points adrift of United and with only two games to go.

I admire him for his great optimism that was apparently fuelled by the surprise 4-1 defeat they dished out to United at Old Trafford.Perhaps Benitez forgot the reality that in a league you could lose a match and still win the cup. After the Liverpool defeat, Alex Ferguson had to revise his notes and the result is the astounding exhibition of classy football that has put United in a pole position. Now they need only four points in their remaining three matches to match Liverpool’s record of 18 league triumphs.

For some time now, Liverpool has always been playing their matches ahead of United and they have really enjoyed the temporary life on top of the table even if it is a couple of hours hoping that United would wobble under pressure. This has not happened. Maybe Benitez will only surrender if United are able to successfully clear the outstanding match against Wigan Athletic on Wednesday.

Whilst I admire Benitez for his wonderful optimism, I doff my hat to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for possessing a lion’s heart. You need such a strong heart to handle a bunch of teenagers who are as unpredictable as the British weather. To concede two massive defeats at The Emirates within a week is enough to unsettle any manager but Wenger remains unruffled and still has confidence in his youngsters to blossom to be future champions.

I wish Kumasi Asante Kotoko coach Opeele Aboagye could develop such steely strength of character and stop finding scapegoats for his team’s unimpressive performance in Ghana’s Premier league culminating in the loss of three home games in the first round. Indeed last Sunday, Kotoko had to fight for a face saving 1-1 home draw against unsung Kessben in the second match of the second round of the league having missed a penalty early in the second half.

The little comfort Kotoko had is that both the run away leaders Accra Hearts of Oak and the next two in the league ladder, Lions and King Faisal all lost points and so the gap on top has not widened any further. Hearts were held to a goalless draw by Liberty Professionals in Accra; Kpandu Heart of Lions lost 2-1 to Sekondi Eleven Wise and Kumasi King Faisal were beaten 1-0 by Wa All Stars

In the other matches, Real Tamale United beat Swedru All Blacks 1-0; Bechem Chelsea beat Obuasi Ashgold 1-0; Sporting Mirren beat Sekondi Hasaacas 2-0 and Tema Youth topped the scoring chart by trouncing Berekum Arsenal 6-0 at Tema.

Reports from the various centres said quality of play was quite high and it is hoped interest in the local league would soar and with the English season coming to a close soon, the FA would stop blaming the English Premiership for robbing the Ghana league of patronage. Surely quality play attracts quality patronage.

Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.