All Stars vow to deepen Hearts’ woes

With three matches to climax this season’s Ghana Premier League, the Wa park will be the centre of attraction today when leaders, Wa All Stars, welcome Accra Hearts of Oak to their Wa fortress.  

Hearts are trailing All Stars on the league log by a point, and today’s clash could decide the winner of this season’s league, especially where third and fourth placed Aduana Stars and Kumasi Asante Kotoko, who clash in Kumasi today, are also in contention for the ultimate. 

This is the first time All Stars have come so close to the Premier League trophy, with six matches to go. All Stars’ best performance since joining the elite division about 10 years ago, is the sixth position. 

The General Manager of the Wa-based club, Seth Panwum, told the Graphic Sports yesterday that Hearts could not stand between All Stars and the top spot.

According to him the Wa lads are bent on writing their names in gold in the history books of Ghana Football this season and, therefore, although he anticipates a tough battle against Hearts today, All Stars are motivated to carry the day after thrashing the Phobians 3-1 in the first round at the Accra Stadium.

Mr Panwum mentioned the likes of Paul Devires Asare, Emmanuel Ocran, Ismail Ganiyu and goalkeeper Richard Ofori as being in top shape to join forces with with their colleagues to do battle for All Stars. 

However, players of Hearts and their under-fire coach, Sergio Traguil, are bent to turning the tables following their 1-1 home draw against Techiman City last saturday. A slip in Wa today could, therefore, spell doom for the Portuguese coach since many Hearts fans believe that the trophy which has eluded the rainbow family for the past six years beckons them this season.

Juxtaposing All Stars’ aim of making history against Hearts’ quest to end their Premier League trophy drought, the Wa park could burst at the seams as both clubs are determined to carry the day to keep their title chase alive. 

Interestingly, Kotoko and Aduana Stars will also do battle at the Baba Yara Stadium with the top spot in mind, as they seek to put their best feet foward for the ultimate. Aduana has over the years been a bogey side to the Porcupine Warriors, but at the Baba Yara Stadium the odds favour Kotoko who have no choice but to make their home grounds a Waterloo for the Dormaa boys.

While the top four clubs battle for the ultimate, the bottom half of the table can also not be overlooked as the battle for survival deepens.

Relegation stares Techiman City, Chelsea, Bechem United, Hasaacas, Inter Allies  and New Edubiase in the face and they are all not leaving no stone unturned to stay in the elite league. Techiman City, who are 11th on the log, will be in Bekwai to dare New Edubiase in a relegation dogfight. Chelsea will be at home to Sekondi Hasaacas, while Bechem United play Medeama SC at Bechem.

In the other encounters, Tema-based Inter Allies host Dwarfs at the Tema park, WAFA engage Dreams FC at Sogakope, while Ashgold lock horns with Liberty Professionals at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium.