Hearts, Kotoko in battle of their lives

The battle for survival against relegation by the two most successful teams, Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko, takes centre stage tomorrow at the Accra Stadium when the two sides clash in the most eagerly anticipated fixture in the First Capital Plus Premier League.

Kotoko occupy the 11th position on the league log with 32 points, while Hearts are three places behind their arch-rivals and separated by three points.

But with five matches to the climax of the season, both teams cannot afford to lift their feet off the pedal, especially when other relegation-threatened teams such as Kpando Heart of Lions, Accra Great Olympics, New Edubiase United and BA United are also bent on surviving.

On account of their recent performances, Kotoko appear slight favourites, especially with their confidence buoyed by last Sunday’s 1-0 victory over league leaders Ashanti Gold just 24 hours after the Phobians lost 1-2 to New Edubiase United at the Len Clay Stadium at Obuasi.

Chroniclers of Ghana football indicate that tomorrow’s encounter is the first between the traditional powerhouses as they lie precariously in the relegation zone and are fighting for their premiership survival.

It puts tomorrow’s encounter at a different level as the two sides take their rivalry to another level in a win-or-bust affair.

Off the field, a lot is being done by both camps by way of monetary rewards as part of efforts to motivate the players and technical handlers to execute the task, as Hearts’ stand -in coach, Edward Ansah, plots victory against a side managed by ex-Hearts coach, David Duncan, who has good knowledge about the strength and weaknesses of his opponents.

Coach Duncan, who has been under fire lately as a result of his side’s poor run of results, will be plotting his tactics around players such as  Abeiku Ainooson, Ahmed Adams, Michael Akuffo, Jordan Opoku and Ivorian striker Ahmed Toure, while his Hearts counterparts will look up to Eric Kumi, Foovi Aguidi, Richard Yamoah, Isaac Mensah and Skipper Robin Gnagne for a home win.

Relegation-threatened Accra Great Olympics will travel to Essipon to play against Sekondi Hasaacas at the Sekondi Stadium, AshantiGold will host Dansoman Liberty Professionals at the Len Clay Stadium while WAFA and Bechem United sort it out at Sogakope.

Berekum  Chelsea play host to Medeama SC at the Golden City Park, BA United engage Aduana Stars in a regional derby at the Sunyani Coronation Park, Tema-based Inter Allies lock horns with visiting Kpando Heart of Lions, while New Edubiase United visit the Wa park to face All Stars.