Battle for Premiership slots: Bofoakwa, RTU, Tema Youth in contention
Ghanaian football fans will have divided attention this weekend as they focus on the Ghana Premier League (GPL) relegation dogfight, as well as promotion to the topflight which has five clubs from Zones One and Three of the Division One League (DOL) battling for two slots.
With Bibiani Goldstars snatching the Zone Two ticket with two matches to spare, much focus will be on Zones One and Three, ????where Tano Bofoakwa and Real Tamale United (RTU) are neck and neck with two matches to go????, same as Accra Lions and Tema Youth in Zone Three.
Bibiani Goldstars top the table with 62 points from 28 matches, but have already booked their ticket for the elite division, hence their encounters with FC Samartex 1996 at the Samartex Park today will only be for the records.
Currently, Tano Bofoakwa and RTU have 58 points and 57 points respectively from 28 matches. Their respective fans will ,therefore, sit on thorns as the two teams engage in some crucial duels today.
While league leaders, Tano Bofoakwa, play host to eighth-placed Wamanafo Mighty Royals in a local derby at the Sunyani Coronation Park tomorrow, RTU will go all out to snatch the maximum points from 14th-placed Yendi Gbewaa FC in another local derby at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale.
The outcome of these two matches could determine which club books the sole ticket to the Ghana Premier League next season.
In Zone Three, both Accra Lions and Tema Youth at tied on 59 points from 28 matches and will fight tooth and nail to remain in contention for the sole ticket at stake.
While league leaders, Accra Lions, will play as guest to Danbort FC at the Zimmaraman Presby Park tomorrow,former Premier League campaigners, Tema Youth will also play as guest of 10th placed Vision FC at the Tema Sports Stadium in a local derby.
Both matches will bring their respective fans in their numbers to the match venues, hence the need for tight security to ensure sanity.