Premier League of twists and turns

The just-ended First Capital Plus Premier League will be remembered for so many interesting and unusual spectacles, not least the struggle by traditional powerhouses, Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko, s they battled against relegation at certain stages of the competition.

While defending champions Kotoko and Hearts, struggled for survival in the elite competition, AshantiGold ensured the blance of power swung back to Obuasi for the first time in 19 years, winning their fourth Premiership title. Significantly, the Aboakese lads won the 2014/15 First Capital plus Premier League with a game to spare, amassing 52 out of a possible 90 points over 30 matches.
Former champions Aduana Stars followed the ‘Soccer Miners’ as the second-placed with Berekum Chelsea and Hearts completing the Top 4.

The First Capital plus Premier League in numbers:
511 – The number of goals scored in 240 games played over 30 weeks — averaging 2.13 goals per league game and 35 goals more than the number scored the previous season.
19 – Kofi Owusu emerged top scorer with 19 goals in 25 games in his first season at Berekum Chelsea.
2 – Two of the 19 goals scored by top scorer Kofi Owusu were converted penalty kicks.
15 – Winners AshantiGold recorded the most wins – 12 (home) 3 (away) games.
8 – AshantiGold recorded the least number of defeats.
19 – Brong Ahafo United recorded the most defeats. They drew seven (7) and won three times – the least in the season.
37 – Third-placed Berekum Chelsea ended the season as the highest scoring side
4:5:6 – Dethroned champions Kotoko emerged best travellers recording four wins, five draws and six defeats.
0 – Three teams, Medeama, Bechem United and B.A. United, failed to win a single game away from home.
39 – Berekum Chelsea, AshantiGold and Aduana Stars bagged the most points from home games (Won 12, drew 3, lost 0).
54 – Bottom placed B.A. United conceded the most goals — 16 at home and 38 away
28 – Asante Kotoko was the second-worst side at home after bottom placed B.A. United. The Porcupine Warriors bagged 28 points from a possible 45 at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
15 – Kotoko scored the most goals away.
29 – Berekum Chelsea scored the most home goals.