Repeat or revenge? As Hearts play Young Wise

A Repetition of the victory or revenge will be on the cards when Accra Hearts of Oak play Division One side, Accra Young Wise, in the MTN FA Cup Round of 64 on Sunday.

When the two sides met last season during the Round of 16, Hearts produced a gritty performance to record a slim 1-0 win to eliminate their opponents from the competition and it makes Sunday’s encounter very dicey.

Aware of the challenge ahead, the head coach of Accra Young Wise, Nassam Abubakar, says his charges are well equipped to slug it out squarely with the team that denied them opportunity to advance in the competition.

“Every coach would like to win against Hearts of Oak because they are a big club, so we are preparing very well for the match. We have a very young team and it is a very big platform to advertise our players to the whole nation so we are ready for it,” said coach Nassam.

To get the job executed, Coach Nassam added that he was looking forward to lining up players such as goalkeeper Osei Bonsu, striker Kelvin Obeng, Ernest Osei, Paul Quaye Jr., Felix Lamptey and Nana Kwame Antwi on Sunday.

Indeed, Young Wise can pull a surprise, especially at a time when the Phobians don’t have things working well for them in the Zylofon Cash Ghana Premier League, following their scoreless drawn game with WAFA in Kumasi Thursday.

Accra Young Wise, currently placed seventh on the Zone Three table with 16 points, will seek to step up their game to pay the Phobians back in their own coin.

At the Baba Yara Stadium, the holders, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, will begin their title defence as they host Bepong Storm Academy on Sunday in a game which the Porcupine Warriors are tipped to win.

Despite experiencing a turbulent season so far, Coach Paa Kwesi Fabin’s charges appear to have found their steam after the recruitment of defender Emmanuel Agyeman Badu, right-back Samuel Frimpong, defender Richard Senanu, midfielder Samuel Appiah Kubi, striker Ibrahim Osman and Alhaji Isahaku.

The new recruits blended well with the old players last Wednesday as they walloped Elmina Sharks 2-0 in their Week 13 league fixture and look set for another victory to cruise comfortably into the Round of 32.

In other encounters, Premier League champions Aduana Stars will host Sunyani-based Young Apostles at the Nana Agyemang Badu II Park, Inter Allies FC engage Immigration FC at the Tema Sports Stadium, while Liberty Professionals trek to the Nii Amoah Okromansah Park at Amrahia to face Vision FC.

Obuasi-based Ashantigold come up against 2015/16 champions, Bechem United at the Len Clay Stadium, former winners, Medeama SC, will face Oil City FC at the Essipon Stadium in Sekondi as they look for their third triumph in the competition in the last seven years, having previously won it in 2013 and 2015.