It’s Akonnor vs Osei
Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s resurgence under the command of stand-in coach Michael Osei will come under their toughest test yet when they visit Dawu this afternoon to play Dreams FC in what stands out as the toughest fixture of the Premier League’s eighth week clashes.
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After their poor start to the season, which culminated in a controversial decsion by the Kotoko management to ask head coach Daviud Duncan to step aside while his assistant takes charge, the Porcupine Warrirors seem to be breathing a new lease of life under Osei, following wins against Liberty Professionals in the league and Tumu-based Real 24 Hours FC last Saturday in an MTN FA Cup tie.
However, Osei faces perhaps his toughest test yet against the Charles Akonnor-inspired Dreams FC, who are unbeaten in the league and could derail Kotoko’s progress if the visiting side drops their guard at the Dawu Park.
Coach Akonnor is expected to field a team comprising Emmanuel Hayford, Lawson Bekoe, Ben Nash Quansah, Emmanuel Lomotey, Aaron Amoah and Johnson Oppong to capitalise on Kotoko’s poor away record, having lost all three games on the road.
But Kotoko’s growing confidence could spur them on to at least halt their losing streak away, and Osei will cound on players such as Dauda Mohammed, Frank Sarfo Gyamfi, Tuffuor Frimpong, Obed Owusu and Enoch Frimpong to at least earn a valuable point and continue their revival.
In Accra, Hearts of Oak seek to return to winning ways as they play host to sixth-placed WAFA at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Hearts fans will hope for an inspirational performance from Kenichi Yatsuhashi’s lads as they seek to bounce back from their elimination at the MTN FA Cup against a WAFA side, who have lost all three away matches in the competition.
Struggling Ebusua Dwarfs will have to work very hard at home if they aim to deny visiting Techiman City a point at the Robert Mensah Stadium in Cape Coast.
Coach J.E. Sarpong’s Dwarfs side have won just one game all season but face a stubborn Techiman side who have drawn one of their three away ties and could force yet another draw on the road.
In other matches this afternoon, Bechem United will play host to Wa All Stars, 12th-placed Aduana Stars welcome Sekondi Hasaacas to the Nana Agyeman Badu Park at Dormaa-Ahenkro, with Liberty Professionals and Berekum Chelsea sorting it out at the Carl Reindorf Park at Dansoman.
Defending champions, Ashantigold, and New Edubiase United will clash at the Len Clay stadium in a battle of two struggling sides.