Kotoko plot revenge against Chelsea

With four matches to end this season’s Premier League, the race for the title is getting keener by the week as league leaders Wa All Stars and the chasing pack of Aduana Stars, Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko are all within arm’s length of the title.

The tight nature of the race puts the spotlight on matches involving the title chasers this weekend, particularly Sunday’s clash between Kotoko and Berekum Chelsea at at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, whose outcome could decide the fate of the home side who are in fourth position on the log and need a win to remain in contention.

Coach Michael Osei’s charges have come under pressure from their fans following a string of uninspiring results, and last Sunday it took a penalty by Amos Frimpong to save them from defeat in their 1-1 drawn game against Sekondi Hasaacas at Essipon.

The Baba Yara Stadium is losing its status as dreaded grounds for visiting sides — Kotoko have drawn three of their last four home games — and that could motivate Chelsea, despite losing all their last six away games, to attempt an upset on Sunday, having defeated the Porcupine Warriors 2-0 in the first round at the Golden City Park.

Apart from the first round defeat, Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Kotoko in Kumasi last season could further bolster the visiting side’s confidence to wreck coach Osei’s side’s title ambition even as Kotoko eye revenge to close down on All Stars.

Kotoko’s arch-rivals Hearts, are going through similar inconsistent form, despite showing impressive away record in the first round. But the Phobians would have to dig deep to produce a good result against improving Bechem United.

Berekum United have won their last three home games at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park, which could be  slippery grounds for Sergio Traguil’s side who still have their eye on the title and, therefore, cannot afford to lose at this time of the season.

Second-placed Aduana Stars also face a difficult trip to Sogakope where they face the might of WAFA, who are unbeaten at home this season and have won their last three games on their artificial turf which visiting sides find difficult to cope with. 

Wa All Stars are favourites at home against fifth-placed Dreams FC at the Wa Park, improving Ebusua Dwarfs host Medeama in Cape Coast Stadium. 

Techiman City host Liberty Professionals at the Ohene Ameyaw Park at Techiman, while Inter Allies welcome New Edubiase United to the Tema Stadium in a battle involving the league’s bottom two sides.