Can Hearts, Kotoko dethrone All Stars?

The present top four Premier League clubs, Wa All Stars, Aduana Stars, Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko, have their destinies in their hands as the competition continues tomorrow with the week 26 matches at the various centres across the country.

With just five matches to the climax of the league, Wa All Stars top with 42 points, with Aduana Stars and Hearts on their heels with 41 points apiece and Kotoko with 40 points, making the race quite slippery for all the four teams. 

In their quest to hang on to the top spot, All Stars, after their 1-1 draw with Hearts at the Wa park last Wednesday, storm Bekwai as guests of struggling New Edubiase United who are languishing at the base of the log on 25 points. With their backs already on the ground, New Edubiase could be dangerous, since they will fight for survival at their backyard. 

Similary, second-placed Aduana Stars are confronted with a dicey encounter against an impressive Ashantigold side who are beginning to find their rhythm after some initial disappointing results. That notwithstanding, the Dormaa Ahenkro side, led by Coach Cioaba Aristica, could count on their massive home support and their top marksman Yahaya Mohammed, Bright Adjei, Godfred Saka, Mumuni Zakaria, Elvis Opoku and others to deliver. 

The picture at the top is equally not favourable for the two most glamorous clubs, Hearts and Kotoko, who are lying third and fourth respectively and are separated by a point. Both teams are feverishly yearning to position themselves at the apex, but against Inter Allies and Hasaacas at the Accra Sports Stadium and the Sekondi Stadium at Essipon respectively, Hearts and Kotoko face some herculean tasks. 

Coincidentally, both Hearts and Kotoko drew in their last matches in Wa and Kumasi, but playing Inter Allies at home, Hearts start as favourites, especially when they defeated the Tema-based club 3-2 at the Tema Park in the first round.

Kotoko, on the other hand, have not been too convincing both at home and away as was evident against Aduana Stars last Wednesday in Kumasi where the Porcupine Warriors could not live up to the expectation of their fans, culminating in some reported rowdy scenes and the hostage of the match officials. But playing against Hasaacas at Essipon, Coach Michael Osei and his boys will have to lift their game, knowing very well that a slip could end their title dream. 

Hasaacas and the likes of Bechem United, Liberty Professionals, Techiman  City, Inter Allies and New Edubiase have their tails in between their legs as the battle for relegation intensifies and are, therefore, expected to offer Kotoko a stiff opposition, with the hostile home crowd hungry for nothing but victory.

Dreams FC and Techiman City will engage in another relegation battle at the Dawu Park, while Liberty Professionals lock horns with WAFA at the Dansoman Carl Reindorf Park. In-form Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs will also welcome Bechem United to the Robert Mensah Stadium, with Medeama engaging Chelsea at a later date at the T & A Park, after their CAF Confederation Cup assignment against MO Bejaia in Algeria next Tuesday.