Action in the nation’s Premier League will resume this weekend following a short break with the pairings looking just like it did in in Week 15 that saw several thrilling rivalry matches as the schedule is set in the immediate reverse order with teams starting off the second half of the 2016/17 season against the last team they played to end the first half.
The second half of the season kicks off with a lot of excitement in the air; WAFA atop the leaderboard, 2points better than the pursuing Aduana Stars, and Hearts of Oak in sole possession of the third spot with 26points hoping to make up for lost ground. Asante Kotoko remain a distant 7th on 21points. On the bottom end of things, bottommost Bolga All Stars, bottom AshantiGold and Gt. Olympics who hold the first relegation spot are all gunning to move up. Gt. Olympics vs B. Chelsea - Accra
Berekum Chelsea's Stephen Sarfo
Consequently, there will be no shortage of action this Saturday at the Accra Sports Stadium as relegation threatened Gt. Olympics and Berekum Chelsea renew hostilities barely two weeks after playing to a pulsating goalless draw in week 15 with the Rosalinda club itching to claw their way up. Berekum Chelsea with their non-winning road record - best being a week ten 1-1 tie against Inter Allies - will likely have their hands full against their hosts who have lost twice at home this season but have started showing some promise under new boss – Tom Strand – after giving up just a goal and managing a loss, a tie and a win to wrap the first half of the season. Head to head, the stats favor Gt. Olympics who have won all their last two matches at home against their guests. Looks like Gt. Olympics will get out of the hole this weekend.
West African Football Academy
Premier League leaders – WAFA – will be looking to rekindle the spirited offensive performance that saw them win two of their last three road games to wrap up the first half of the season as they go for the sweep against Inter Allies at the El Wak Sports Stadium. The three points away from the first drop spot – Inter Allies – surely understand their situation and will be on the hunt for revenge as they look to distance themselves from the lower half of the table. Head to head, they have 2 ties between them, 2 wins for WAFA and 1 win for Inter Allies. But the good news for Allies is that they are yet to lose at home to WAFA. An exciting game awaits with Inter Allies having the advantage at home but they can’t afford to sleep on their tenacious guests if they want to start the second half on a winning note. Two points behind the summit – Aduana Stars – will have the opportunity to reclaim the top spot they ceded a while with a win over neighbors – Bechem United – in their local derby and a loss for WAFA. The two sides played to a one-all tie in their Week 15 clash that saw the title hopefuls force their guests to come from a goal down for a point. At home, where they have been stellar thus far, they have conceded a grand total of zero goals, an indication that Bechem will be hard-pressed to leave with a point, much more a win despite winning 3 games on the road in the first round. Aduana Stars have shown some weakness at home with ties against Medeama and Wa All Stars and it will be up to Bechem Utd to pounce. Aduana has the edge in this one.
Accra Hearts of Oak will have their eyes laser focused on sweeping neighbors – Liberty Profs – this weekend at the Accra Sports Stadium for their third consecutive win after impressively handing them a 3-0 defeat on the road in Week 15. The third placed on 26points rejuvenated Phobians are enjoying a 6 game unbeaten run (4 wins and 2 ties) and seem to have finally found their scoring boots, scoring 8 goals in their last three premier league outings. The Phobians remain undefeated at home despite allowing a whopping 6goals goals. New Liberty Profs Boss – Michael Osei –will be putting in his second appearance as head coach and will likely not have it easy with his site that has not been particularly good on the road but have managed a couple of ties. Liberty surprised Hearts with a win last year at the Accra Sports stadium in the ensuing chaos of then Coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi’s firing, but it is unlikely they will be able to do that against their hosts who have started responding very well to Coach Frank Nuttal’s tactics. Given their current form, Hearts have the advantage at home but they can’t overlook their guests whose precarious position – a spot away – from the first drop zone will compel them to put in a monumental effort for a point at worse.
Three losses and 5 ties in their last 8 premier league appearances have the once title hopeful Asante Kotoko outfit in a downward spiral - 7th spot on 21points – and a reorganization that has seen Zdravko Lugarusic out, Frimpong Manso and Godwin Ablordey in on an interim basis and finally permanent replacement Steve Pollack, all unable to get the club out of their current non-winning funk. They will once again have another shot at getting into the winning column at the expense of their hosts who held them to a pulsating a goalless draw in their week 15 clash at Kumasi a couple of weeks ago. At home, the Harbor Boys remain unbeaten with impressive wins over Hearts of Oak, B. Chelsea and Gt. Olympics. Given their current precarious position – 12th and 2points away from safety, they will definitely go all out for the 3points as they look to gain separation from the bottom places. Kotoko is the better team on paper but Tema Youth seem to have the advantage.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Ebusua Dwarfs and Elmina Sharks will continue their newfound rivalry at the premiership level with the former looking to payback the latter as well as grab the bragging rights after losing by a lone goal in their Week 15 clash in Elmina. Dwarfs have the advantage at home but don’t count out the sharks given the level of familiarity between the sides.
Medeama SC will be gunning for a stay in the resurgent path that has them undefeated in their last 4 premier league outings and victors of 3, a result that has seen them vault to the 6th spot on 21points, as they host bottommost Bolga All Stars who have been largely ineffectual away from home. Medeama handed them a 2-1 defeat in their Week 15 clash at Bolga, and they will very likely repeat the dose.
And the last two respective Premier League Champions; AshantiGold and Wa All Stars will go at it again, this time, at Wa’s Malik Jabir Park following their week 15 clash that saw AshGold end a 9 game non-winning run with a lone goal victory to vacate the cellar. Following recent changes to their technical bench that has former player C. K. Akunnor at the helm and a couple of new signings during the break to help lift the club from the relegation places, Wa All Stars can expect a feisty fight from their opponents but they surely have the upper hand at home despite losing a couple of home games.
Ghana Premier League Week 16
Saturday, 27th May 2017
Gt. Olympics vs B. Chelsea - Accra
Sunday, 28th May 2017
Hearts of Oak vs Liberty Professionals - Accra
Inter Allies vs WAFA – El Wak
Medeama SC vs Bolga All Stars – Tarkwa
Ebusua Dwarfs vs Elmina Sharks – Cape Coast
Wa All Stars vs Ashanti Gold – Wa
Aduana Stars vs Bechem Utd – Dormaa
Tema Youth vs Asante Kotoko
© MYGHANALINKS 2017. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be republished, reposted or redistributed.
Follow @myghanalinks on Twitter and like us on Facebook
