The Ghanaian version of Spain’s El Classico featuring football giants Real Madrid and Barcelona comes off at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Sunday between Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko in an epic league battle for supremacy.

These two giants of Ghana football have between them won the 52 year old national league 41 times; Kotoko 21 and Hearts 20. This duopoly by Kotoko and Hearts has been a great concern to football purists who had hoped to see a welcome change this season when these two veterans started the competition poorly with debutants Aduana Stars setting a cracking pace. But the second round saw Hearts and Kotoko trying to recover admirably and the race is now quite open.

Kotoko have been a bit unstable but Hearts are fast piling up points and are in a strategic position sharing the second spot with Ashgold on 35 points just two points behind surprise leaders Aduana Stars from Dormaa Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo Region. 

Since Kotoko broke Hearts record six consecutive league triumphs in 2003, the title has been changing hands between the two. Kotoko however won back to back in 2005 and 2006 and this is what Hearts are plotting to do this season by retaining the cup they won last season.

With nine matches to go, the three points at stake on Sunday are vital to both team’s ambition to snatch the Cup. Hearts won the first round 1-0 and Kotoko have vowed to avenge defeat even if their chances of winning the Cup look slim the supporters can do with some bragging rights. It is quite a close call and a draw is a very likely result.

The league leaders Aduana Stars will trek to Abramkese to face Kessben who are mourning the death of their youthful ace defender Bartholomew Yeboah. The 19 year old died a few hours after collapsing in Kessben’s recent league match against Liberty Professionals at Dansoman.

This is the second death of a Ghanaian league player in action for more than four decades. Records show that Amadu Salatu, an 18 year old player of Kumasi Cornerstones collapsed and died later in hospital during  a league match between Cornerstones and Cape Coast Venomous Vipers at the Kumasi  Sports Stadium on  August 4 1968.

Moves from certain quarters to suspend this weekend’s league matches in memory of Bartholomew Yeboah  has been politely declined by the Professional League Board "PLB" that has rather  dedicated the matches in the players’ honour and directed all teams and officials to wear black arm bands and observe a minute’s silence before kick off.      

This to my mind is a perfect arrangement because I believe life must go on.   The biggest tribute Kessben can pay to their departed player is to win handsomely and hit the headlines for stopping the tough nut league leaders.

Title chasers Ashgold stand a chance of maintaing their pursuit of the crown they last won 16 years ago by beating Real Tamale United at Obuasi.

The remaining fixtures are; Eleven Wise v Kpandu Heart of Lions  in Sekondi; Great Olympics  v King Faisal in Accra; All Stars v Sekondi Hasaacas at Wa; Berekum Chelsea v New Edubiase at Sunyani.

It is hoped that all the players will put up a high standard of play and try as much as possible to close the widening gap between the European League matches we see on TV and the local league which looks like a child’s play.

Cheers everybody and let somebody tell Usain Bolt to heed Michael Johnson’s advice to try his long legs on the 400metres in addition to the 100metres and 200metres. Johnson is really a good man; for not many people would love their legendary feats being emulated. Check this out with ant of the political leaders in Africa.

Apologies for the diversion, we are talking sports and not politics. Keep loving sports.