The old folks who have followed the national soccer league of Ghana for the past three decades or so now look at the ongoing 2009/2010 league table and it looks like a fairy tale. The top three clubs are Kessben from Abramkese, near Kumasi; All Stars from Wa in the Upper Region and Aduana Stars from Dormaa-Ahenkro, Brong-Ahafo Region Kessben and All Stars share the top spot with 23 points apiece and Aduana follow with 22 points.

The traditional winners Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak who between them have won the 50 year old competition 41 times are missing in action. Hearts are fifth with 21 points and Kotoko 9th with 18 points.

The football purists have expressed concern about what they call “the duopoly of the league by Kotoko and Hearts” and they would be pleased with a new face on the trophy.

But observers are worried that there maybe some clandestine plans to rob these two teams of some deserved honour in certain matches, especially those involving Asante Kotoko. Kotoko officials have complained of unfair officiating but those complaints have been dismissed on the grounds that they were finding excuses for their poor form.

The latest incident at Obuasi where two doubtful penalties were awarded against Kotoko in their match against Edubiase Stars when they were leading 3-1 continues to be the talking point in football circles.  It is true that without surprise results, football and for that matter sports in general, would cease to be an attraction but that is no license to openly and deliberately cheat the favourites to favour the underdogs.

English football continues to produce shocking and exciting results that produce good money for the pools but there is no evidence of conspiracy to sabotage the efforts of the  perennial pace setters to replenish their stock of the already abundant silverware.

The Ghana league has reached an interesting stage where individual club owners are making a great impact. Significantly the FA President has a team, Wa All Stars that is doing extremely well. Indeed, they share the top spot on the table. On Wednesday, they face the nation’s top crowd pullers Asante Kotoko in Kumasi in an encounter that could raise a lot of passion.

In my part of the world, football fans could come out with a lot of unproven stories about officialdom. The slightest trace of bias in favour All Stars could lead to several conclusions that All Stars were enjoying official patronage. It is hoped no such incidents would happen and fans would witness a clean match that would convince the cynics that Ghana football has reached the stage where we could also run the pools to raise additional funds for the clubs.

Cheers everybody and keep loving sports