I sound like a broken gramophone record but I can’t help talking about and enjoying the exciting finish to many of the national leagues across the world and especially the similarity in the race for the title in my country Ghana and that of England.

Until quite lately it had been a three horse race in Ghana involving defending champions Accra Hearts of Oak, Obuasi Ashgold and debutants Aduana Stars of Dormaa Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo Region. Just like the English Premiership which had been a three -horse event featuring defending champions Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal who not unexpectedly chickened out at the home stretch leaving United and Chelsea to sort things out.

Topping the log by a point Chelsea’s tricky penultimate match against Liverpool on Sunday became a huge factor in the ultimate prize winner. Football analysts were sharply divided whether or not Liverpool would have the needed motivation to beat Chelsea at home to pave the way for a probable Manchester United cup triumph that would surpass Liverpool’s rich league record set more than a decade ago. A question of cutting your nose to spite your face one would say.

Those who argued that Liverpool may not have the urge to go that extra mile to facilitate a United triumph were proved right when Chelsea had quite a field day winningly rather comfortably 2-0.  The pressure then fell on United to try and catch up and they typically proved that champions die hard and dimmed the lights at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland with a narrow 1-0 win.

In Ghana, tottering Kumasi Asante Kotoko with a record 21 league triumphs found themselves in a similar situation like Liverpool whether to go the extra mile to beat potential champions Obuasi Ashgold to pave the way for close rivals Accra Hearts of Oak who were on the verge of equaling Kotoko’s proud league record. In the end, Ashgold showed they had much more at stake than Kotoko and made sure of victory with an early goal that Kotoko did not have that drive to redeem.

An added boost for Ashgold was Accra Hearts incredible 3-2 loss to Kessben after taking a 2-0 lead. With such a lethargic show by Hearts, at this crucial stage of the competition, Arsenal style, the championship dream is lost. Ashgold have their own destiny in their hands to clinch the title with a home win over Wa All Stars in the penultimate match on Wednesday.

This looks on paper a far easier opposition than what Aduana Stars, three points behind, would face in Liberty Professionals in Accra.

The weekend will see the crowning moment with Ashgold facing Bechem Chelsea away from home and Aduana Stars hosting Berekum Arsenal. But these wont be exciting like the final matches in England where Chelsea would have to win to sustain their thin lead and Manchester also must win to keep their hopes alive in case Chelsea drop points.

My greatest excitement however is that for the first time in living memory the Ghana league and the English premiership would end at the same time ditto most of the European leagues thanks to FIFA’s strict adherence to deadlines prior to the World Cup.

Who says Africa can’t keep to time schedules? Expect wonders from South Africa in June.

Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.