The football purists who have been praying for a halt to the duopoly of Ghana’s Premier league by Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak are likely to have their wishes granted if the current forward march by hitherto unsung clubs continues.

Since 1978 when the then newly created Real Tamale United took the league by storm and almost led from start to finish, no newcomer has established such a credible title ambition like Aduana Stars from Dormaa Ahenkro are portraying this season.

Perched on top of the table for the major part of the Premiership, Aduana Stars are impregnable at home; the only side to have won all eight home matches in the league that enters its 19th week on Sunday. That dreaded home invincibility faces a big test when Aduana host 21 time champions Asante Kotoko in the top liner of the weekend’s fixtures.

Everything points to a pulsating encounter. Kotoko are fresh from their 2-0 Africa Cup defeat at the hands of Senegalese club FC Liguere last week and Coach Paa Kwasi Fabin says they are determined to erase memories of that defeat and use the match against Aduana as a dress rehearsal for their return match against the Senegalese on Feb 28. It will be tough.Aduana has not conceded any goal at their pet home grounds and it would be interesting to see how Kotoko could break that enviable record.

Kotoko have history on their side. You may recall that in 1978 when debutants Real Tamale United were sailing menacingly to a league triumph on their first attempt, it was Kotoko that disrupted their title ambitions with a 2-0 defeat at a crucial moment like this.

It looks like history would repeat itself. Unlike 1978 when Kotoko had little title hopes, they are this time hopeful of reaching the top and this should give them an added incentive to halt the marauding youngsters from Dormaa Ahenkro. It’s not going to easy though.

A side attraction to this titanic clash is that Aduana Stars coach Herbert Addo was in charge of Kotoko last season but a dispute over wages led to his departure to Dormaa. It would therefore give Herbert a personal bragging right if he can reverse the 1-0 first round defeat and brighten their record breaking championship hopes. 

The Accra Hearts of Oak v Ashgold match in Accra will be another tough pairing. Ashgold are just a point behind the leaders and don’t seem to have any intention of abandoning that spot hoping to leapfrog to the top at the slightest opportunity Hearts on the other hand want to defend their title in style and also avoid a third time defeat in a row having lost to Liberty Professional and Berekum Arsenal in their last two outings.

Third placed Kessben will travel to Tamale to face Real |Tamale United in another tough encounter.

All the remaining five matches have their peculiar attractions. At Obuasi, New Edubiase will face Accra Great Olympics; Sekondi Hasaacas will face Eleven Wise in a local derby; King Faisal will meet Berekum Arsenal in Kumasi; Kpando Heart of Lions will host Liberty Professional and Berekum Chelsea will also host Wa All Stars.

The general expectation is that there would be dramatic changes in the league table this weekend since the points gap among the first five top clubs are very tight;Aduana Stars 32,Ashgold 31, Kessben 30, Hearts 28,All Stars 28 follow in that order.

The race for the top four in the Ghana Premier league is as close as the English Premiership. There must be something in a name after all.

Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.

FROM MY ARCHIVES

Feb 21st 1993: English soccer’s Premier league has signed a 12 million pounds sterling sponsorship deal with Britain’s largest brewery.

From next season, the league will be known as the FA Carling Premier league and the brewers claim their four year deal represents the biggest sponsorship agreement in British sport.