Can tottering Ashgold overcome Hearts?
Defending league champions Ashgold are going through difficult moments in the premier league but have their reputation to guard when they welcome Accra Hearts of Oak to the Len Clay Stadium at Obuasi on Sunday.
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Once a fortress for the home side, the Len Clay Stadium is now losing its status as the most feared grounds after newly-promoted Dreams FC snatched a decisive 1-0 win at Obuasi a few weeks ago.
As if that wasn’t enough, Liberty Professionals compounded the misery of Bashir Hayford’s side after cutting them to size at Dansoman with a 5-0 drubbing.
So far, it has been an uninspiring run for a side that won the Premier League with aplomb last season but has won just two games so far.
But Hearts also have their own challenges lately, having started the competition on a flying not but without a victory in their last three games.
They face a difficult trip to Obuasi as the home side also look determined to reserve their flagging fortunes and will seek to maintain their home superiority over the Phobians, having won six of their last nine clashes at the Len Clay stadium.
Last season, however, the two sides drew 1-1 at Obuasi and drew 2-2 in Accra.
The statistics favour Ashgold but Hearts could pull a surprise, with in-form Musah Ibrahim expected to spearhead Kenichi Yatsuhashi’s attack which includes Samuel Yeboah and Kenneth Okoro.
But Coach Hayford, whose side held New Edubiase United 1-1 last Wednesday, will field a strong side around Tijani Joshua, Awudu Nafui, Augustine Sefa, Joseph Ato Bissah, Nuhu Fuseini and Mumuni Shafui in search of their first win in six games.
Stop-gap coach Micheal Osei seem to have discovered the winning formula for Kumasi Asante Kotoko and they would be buoyed by their 1-0 win against Dreams FC at Dawu last Wednesday to seek their third straight league victory over New Edubiase at the Baba Yara Stadium.
Since taking over, Osei has guided the Porcupine Warriors to their three straight victories including their FA Cup match against Tumu 24 Hours and victories against Liberty Professionals (3-1) and Dreams FC making coach David Duncan’s relevance pale each passing match
In other matches, seventh-placed Techiman FC will host 11th-placed Bechem United at the Nana Gyeabour Park at Techiman, while WAFA welcome Ebusua Dwarfs to the Sogakope Park.
Sekondi Hasaacas return to Essipon to battle in-form Liberty Professionals who are lying in fourth place on the league log, while league leaders Wa All Stars entertain Inter Allies at the Wa Park.
Berekum Chelsea are expected to recover from their 1-3 loss to Liberty against Dreams FC at the Golden City Park, while a cracker await fans at Dormaa-Ahenkro where home side Aduana Stars and Medeama lock horns.