| « Hearts Confirm Popular Notion | The Sporting Gods favoured Manchester United » |
Hearts Will be No Match
I think it is totally wrong to describe the national football league match between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Sunday as a match for the gods by a section of the Ghanaian media.
The fact that the two teams command the largest following in the country does not necessarily make any match between them a top attraction. In fact the gap between the two clubs is so wide that result will be of only academic purpose. Kotoko top the table with 45 points and Hearts lie in the 10th position 24 points behind Kotoko. Hearts are in one of their worst seasons and the only asset carrying them along is their loudmouthed supporters who are really living up to the club’s motto of "never say die until the bones are rotten".
The first round match in Accra ended in a goalless draw in a match the Hearts defence were given the licence by the referee to intimidate the Kotoko attackers with brutal tackles. It was good sportsmanship on the part of Kotoko that they stuck to the rules and played according to the whistle. But it is doubtful whether Kotoko playing in front of a home crowd will tolerate such foul tactics once more.
It is seriously suggested that security be tightened and match officials advised to fair and firm to ensure a smooth run of play.
Former international star Coleman was the culprit in the first match when he actually manhandled potential goalking Eric Bekoe .His idea of close marking was like smootchy dancing and was lucky that the referee might have left his cards in the dressing room
The crowd as usual will be thick. I expect. Hearts to fight to avoid a heavy defeat but if Kotoko stick to their recent fluid play and avoid any retaliation of robust tactics it would be a good game and the Porcupines will carry the day with a comfortable margin