Difficult game for Kotoko, Medeama: Both search for first win
Two back-to-back defeats in the Premier League have taken the shine off Medeama SC after winning the MTN FA Cup and the GFA Super Cup two within months.
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Losses to AshantiGold and Accra Hearts of Oak have put pressure on Coach Tom Strand to halt their downward slide as they face another difficult test against giants Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday.
In spite of their poor start, Strand remains confident his boys have recovered and are psyched up to burst the bubble of the Porcupine Warriors on Sunday.
“The players are psyched up to end the recent losing trend and revive the Premier League campaign. I still have the solid team who won the GFA Super Cup against AshantiGold but the only problem had been their failure to convert the many chances created,” Strand told our sister paper Graphic Sports early in the week.
“Management is sad but I don’t think they should because the league has not ended. We still have many matches to play and I believe that anything can happen.”
The 35-year-old Swedish trainer, who admits he has to stem the tide because the club’s management is upset with their poor start, is expected to fall on his trusted players such as Muntari Tagoe, Akwasi Donsu, Malik Akowuah, Yaw Ansah, Abass Mohammed, Enoch Atta Agyei and Kwame Boahene to lead their revival on Sunday against a side also determined to get back to winning ways after a poor start.
Kotoko, who also lost their opening game 0-2 to WAFA at Sogakope, are also under pressure to win Sunday’s game at home, particularly with arch-rivals Hearts of Oak enjoying a good run.
Until their 1-2 defeat to Medeama in the FA Cup final last August, Kotoko had never lost to the visiting side in their last six clashes both home and away, which makes Sunday’s match in Kumasi a sort of match of revenge for experienced coach David Duncan and his charges.
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In other third week clashes, Hearts of Oak will storm the Robert Mensah Stadium in Cape Coast to lock horns with Ebusua Dwarfs.
Inspired by their two straight wins against New Edubiase United and Medeama, the Phobians will be seeking a third straight victory which could send them to the top of the league table and win coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi more admirers.
Another cracker on Sunday is the match between Techiman City and Aduana Stars at the Techiman Park.
League leaders Wa All Stars will host Liberty Professionals at the Wa Stadium, Bechem United will welcome New Edubiase to Bechem, WAFA will engage Hasaacas at Sogakope, Inter Allies and Dreams FC will face-off at Tema, while Chelsea trek to Obuasi to encounter Ashantigold at the Len Clay Stadium.