The Ghana premier football league is getting more exciting as surprise results keep coming every week. It is said that without surprise results and setbacks, football and for that matter sports in general, will cease to be an attraction. It is therefore good we are having surprises galore.

Indeed this is what makes the European league, notably the English Premiership tick. Luckily, Ghana is getting near that phenomenon. The big club syndrome is gradually vanishing and now traditional league winners, Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak are being given a rough time by the so called "unsung clubs".

It is hoped the trend could continue to enable the moribund Ghana Football Pools Authority to be revived. Football pools is big business in many parts of the world and Ghana should be able to exploit interest in the game to rake in some more funds to aid the ailing economy.

Midway through the first round of the Ghana Premiership, the relatively young clubs are giving every indication that they are determined to halt the duopoly of Kotoko and Hearts. The rejuvenated Kessben that has changed ownership is setting quite a cracking pace and it looks like they really mean business.

The Sekondi based club already hold victories over Kotoko and Hearts and that should give them enough confidence to go places. Kessben’s 3-1 victory over Brong Ahafo Stars Stars on Sunday has strenghtened their grip on top of the table and it would be interesting to see how they would fare against Heart of Lions at Kpandu this Sunday.

Lions suffered a rare home defeat at the hands of Obuasi Ashgold last Sunday and their clash with Kessben should be a thriller.

Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak who between them have won the league 41 times will  meet in their traditional “El Classico” at the Baba Yara  Stadium in Kumasi  in the 9th week top fixture on Sunday.

The two teams are approaching the match in contrasting moods. Hearts are obviously in high spirits following their massive 3-0 win over Wa All Stars last Sunday. On the other hand, Kotoko are brooding over their 3-2 defeat at the hands of local rivals King Faisal.

Interestingly, Hearts’ 3-0 win was their highest goal tally in the eight week league whereas Kotoko’s 3-2 defeat was the heaviest number of goals conceded.  The pundits say matches between these ancient rivals do not ordinarily follow form guide and it could be anybody game.

I hear the soccer numerologists are reading that the three goals involved in the matches played by Hearts and Kotoko portend a goal harvest in the upcoming “El Classico”with the figure 3 playing an important role.

Well, your prediction is as good mine and my prayer is that it should be incident free. The May 9th 2001 stadium disaster involving these same two clubs is still fresh in the minds of soccer fans.

And it would be in the interest of the game for both players and spectators to display sportsmanship. I hope to be in the thick of the crowd to watch this annual ritual. I will however put on a crash helmet just in case.

Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.