Glo (Ghana) Premier League: Week 8 Statistics

Babayara, Kumasi: King Faisal 3-2 Asante Kotoko

1-0 George Ekow Annan

2-0 Samuel Adade

3-0 Abdul Wahab

3-1 Alex Asamoah

3-2 Daniel Nii Adjei

Accra Sports, Accra: Hearts of Oak 3-0 All Stars

1-0 Uriah Asante

2-0 Douglass Nkrumah

3-0 Edwin Osei ‘Pele’

Agyeman Badu II Park, Dormaa: Aduana Stars 1-1 Dwarfs

1-0 Seidu Bansi

1-1 Joseph Mugri

Adu Gyamfi Park, Bekwai: Edubiase FC 2-0 Chelsea

1-0 Stephen Manu

2-0 Stephen Manu

Kpando Park, Kpando: Heart of Lions 0-1 AshantiGold FC

0-1 Mohammed Yakubu

Glo (Ghana) Premier League 2010/2011: Week 7 Statistics

Coronation Park, Sunyani: B.A. Stars FC 0-1 Edubiase FC

0-1 Emmanuel Baffoe

* Match called off due to crowd violence

Golden City Park, Berekum: Berekum Chelsea 1-0 Aduana Stars

1-0 Emmanuel Clottey

Robert Mensah Park, Cape Coast: Mysterious Dwarfs 0-0 Hearts of Oak

Wa Park, Wa: All Stars 1-0 King Faisal

1-0 Nathaniel Asamoah

Baba Yara, Kumasi: Asante Kotoko 2-1 Real Tamale United

1-0 Alex Asamoah

1-1 Mohammed Alhassan

2-1 Daniel Nii Adjei

Carl Reindorf, Dansoman: Liberty Professionals 1-1 Berekum Arsenals

0-1 Nana Poku

1-1 Mawuli Toglo

El Wak, Accra: Mighty Jets 0-0 Heart of Lions

Len Clay, Obusai: AshantiGold FC 0-0 Kessben FC

 

Match Day 7: Goal King Race

4 – Stephen Manu (New Edubiase)

3 – Hans Coffie (Kessben), Bismark Asiedu (Dwarfs), Alex Asamoah (Kotoko)

2 – Edwin Osei (Hearts of Oak), Daniel Larbi Coomson (B.A. Stars),  Daniel Nii Adjei (Kotoko), Louis Agyemang (Kotoko), Fuseini Nuhu (New Edubiase), Morro Zakari (Liberty Professionals), Aaron Amoah (Mighty Jets), Frank Nortey (All Stars), Mustafa Douglass (Dwarfs), James Buadu (Kessben), Richard Mpong (Kessben), Benard Dong Bortey (Aduana), Nana Poku (Arsenal), Emmanuel Clottey (Chelsea), Nathaniel Asamoah (All Stars)

Nations Cup Qualifier: Ghana 0-0 Sudan – a Wake up call?

There were those who believed that the Nations Cup qualifier between Ghana and Sudan on Sunday 10th October, 2010 was a foregone conclusion. The Black Stars were going to make mincemeat of Sudan. These beliefs became mere wishful thinking as the game turned out to be a bore draw which the Sudanese will be happy to take.

Coach Kwasi Appiah went into the game with the 4-2-3-1 formation, hoping that Gyan would lead Andre and Jordan Ayew in attack with support from Kwadwo Asamoah. The 4-2-3-1 deep tactic is Ghana’s preferred formation and many had hoped for at least a win this that tactic. But Ghana’s midfield and attacking machinery simply refused to work. A lot of the players did not have the sense of urgency on a day when the Sudanese team had a perfect antidote for Ghana’s attack.

Gyan’s shooting was just terrible. The least he could have done was to set up the wide forwards, but how could he when he displayed such poor first touch? Jordan Ayew’s inexperience and inclination to play to the gallery weakened Ghana’s attack further. Kwadwo Asamoah’s tendency to hold on to the ball too long destroyed team cohesion and ball supply to the other three forwards wasn’t enough. Bernard Yao-Kumordzi continued to show his predisposition to choking anytime he is given the big national team role. He made a complete mess of the deep-lying playmaker role. Enter Emmanuel Agyeman-Badu with his bird-killing shots. It was just not a good day for Ghana.

FA Cup 2010/2011: Welcome the Ghana FA Cup

Probably the most refreshing football news this week is the announcement by the Ghana Football Association that the F.A. Cup has returned and we are guaranteed some electrifying knock-out games over the next 3 years, beginning from December 2010.

Apart from the GH¢3 million  MTN Ghana sponsorship invested into the competition, the return of the F.A cup will come with immense benefits for all stakeholders of Ghana’s beautiful game. Particularly, the return of the F.A cup will give 112 participating clubs the chance to showcase their players. Fringe players will also get the opportunity to win some playing time.

Additionally, knockout competitions like FA cups are always exciting for fans. The return of the FA Cup also means that the ever-anticipated and thrilling  Champion of Champions Cup (Ghana’s own version of the Community Shield) that heralds the beginning of every new season will come back.

The last time the tournament was played in 2001, King Faisal, Kotoko, Mysterious Dwarfs, and Ashgold were the semi-finalists. Asante Kotoko were 1-0 victors over King Faisal, courtesy Kwame Bueh’s goal. Kotoko fans will remember with fondness the contribution of their greats like Joe Okyere, Osei Kwame and Aziz Ansah (The Honourable). This is how it went:

Semifinals [November 28, 2001]:

Asante Kotoko 5-0 Cape Coast Dwarfs

1-0 Joe Okyere

2-0 Joe Okyere

3-0 Charles Asamoah

4-0 Aziz Ansah

5-0 Osei Kwame

King Faisal Babies 4-0 Goldfields

1-0 Issah Debrah

2-0 Frank Osei

3-0 Frank Osei

4-0 Joe Agyemang

Glo (Ghana) Premier League 2010/2011: Week 6 Statistics

On Match Day 6, Kessben FC shook off their away loss to whipping boys Mighty Jets lasts week with an emphatic 3-1 win against the exciting New Edubiase FC

Agyeman Badu II Park, Dormaa: Aduana Stars 1-0 B.A. Stars

1-0 Benard Dong Bortey

Essipong, Sekondi: Kessben FC 3-1 New Edubiase FC

1-0 Hans Coffie

2-0 James Buadu

2-1 Stephen Manu

3-1 Joseph Hendricks

Accra Sports, Accra: Hearts of Oak 1-1 Berekum Chelsea

0-1 Abdul Bassit

1-1 Edwin Osei

Lenclay, Obuasi: Ashgold 3-0 Mighty Jets

1-0 Addoquaye Addo

2-0 Nana Yaw Afriyie

3-0 Yakubu Mohammed

Open Letter to Mr. Fred Crentsil: Are you The ONE or we should expect another

Dear Sir,

I hope this letter finds you well. Let me take the pleasure to congratulate you on your appointment as the C.E.O of Ghana’s oldest club, Accra Hearts of Oak.

A year from today, if you have not been hounded out of office, given up or failed miserably, you will be the Centenary Chairman.  But Sir, as you take the hot seat, I would kindly ask you to pause and ponder over this million cedi question: 100 years of what? No stadium, no training facilities, broke, terrible football, and a dwindled fan base?

Mr. Crentsil, you have taken on yourself an almost too difficult task. Apart from the doubts among supporters about your true Phobia credentials, the numerous issues of ownership, shareholding and factions within the club can distract even the most focused man.  How you will shake off theese distractions  in your first few years will give us the indications as to whether you are THE ONE, or we should expect another saviour of the falling Oak tree.

The Phobia family expects you to come with a magic wand in hand to turn around the fortunes of the once glorious club. Do you have a what it takes? or you are the kind of magician who will make the club disappear into oblivion.

Now I am not a Hearts fan, but as a lover of Football Made in Ghana, I have expectations of my own.  I  have a three interrelated concerns which I would want you to address before your spend 3 years in office.

Glo (Ghana) Premier League: Week 5 Statistics

On Match Day 5, Mighty Jets’ midfielder Aaron Amoah shot himself into the limelight with two well-taken goals against the hitherto invincible Kessben FC. Meanwhile, at the Robert Mensah Park in Cape Coast,  Mysterious ‘Ebusua’ Dwarfs put three past Real Tamale United. The win was inspired by Francis Gyepi who made his premier league debut.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

Adu Gyamfi Park, Bekwai: New Edubiase FC 0-0 Aduana Stars

Coronation Park, Sunyani: BA Stars FC 0-1 Hearts of Oak

0-1 Uriah Asante Mensah

Golden City, Berekum: Chelsea 1-0 King Faisal

1-0 Emmanuel Clottey

Robert Mensah, Cape Coast: Mysterious Dwarfs 3-0 Real Tamale United

1-0 Francis Gyepi

2-0 Bismark Asiedu

3-0 Douglas Mustafa

Wa Park, Wa: All Stars 2-2 Berekum Arsenals

1-0 Nathaniel Asamoah

2-0 Frank Nortey

2-1 Ofori Bennett

2-2 Nana Poku

Glo (Ghana) Premier League 2010/2011: Flops of September

Daniel Adjei, Liberty Professionals

By the time the Top Four tournament, Sports Writers of Ghana (SWAG) Cup and the first round of the Otumfuor Invitational Tournament were over, the media had decided which players will be the next big thing in Ghana soccer. Come the first four games, some of these players have not just been a pale shadow of their pre-season performances, but have raised doubts of their ability to perform in the subsequent competitive games ahead of them.

I compiled a list of top 3 flops of the month of September.

[1.] Gilbert Fiamenyo (Heart of Lions)

Gilbert is my pick for flop of the month. The Heart of Lions forward rose to fame during the GHALCA organized Top Four Tournament. His energetic runs, exciting dribbles and efficient goal scoring rate made him an instant hit.

Volumes of radio and television air time as well as newspaper space were dedicated to the new ‘star’ from Kpando. But after one month of competitive premiership football, Gilbert has disappointingly not found the net yet. Questions are being raised whether the Hearts of Oak reject deserved all the attention he was given during friendly games. Now the pressure is on Gilbert to prove to us that he is just not another flash in the pan.

[2.] Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals)

In the run up to World Cup 2010, I questioned why Adjei, who was struggling to make first team at Liberty was better than other goal keepers. I was told that these other goalkeepers made a complete mess of themselves at pre-tournament camping.

It looks to me that Adjei is waking up from the U-20 World Cup winning dream to some of the harshest realities of adult football. Those 8 goals he conceded in the month of September should be a signal to him that he may have to work harder to get back to the national team. .

[3.] Edwin Osei Pele (Hearts of Oak)

Personally, I am convinced that Edwin is another pre-season wonder kid. After the departure of Mahatma Otoo, Eric Gawu and Edward Affum, many Hearts of Oak fans invested what was left of their already depleted hopes in Edwin. And yes, during the pre-season, he looked like a good player to hang the huge expectations of Hearts of Oak on. The teenager put up some stellar performances which won the hearts of even haters of his club.

But watching him play this season, one is left to wonder what the fans saw in him to have expected so much from him. He has been lethargic and posed no real threat to any defense. Edwin may not have realised that he has inherited a rich history of proven performers; of Shamo Quaye, Joe Fameye, Osumanu Amadu, Ishamel Addo, Emmanuel Osei Kufour, Charles Taylor and the many others before them. The earlier he stepped up his performance, the better for him and his relegation-threatened Hearts of Oak.

My season will be made if one of these three flops of September prove me wrong in the coming months.

Glo (Ghana) Premier League 2010/2011: The best of the September

Even though the Glo (Ghana) Premier League is continuously faced with the age-old challenges of poor facilities, low television coverage and poor attendance, we have had an exciting first month.

In addition to some beautiful football at some centres; we have witnessed an average of 12 goals per week. At least one away team has recorded a win each week. Kessben FC was exceptional in this regard, winning all their 2 away games.

Aduana FC showed that their 2009/2010 title winning performance was not a fluke as they continued to show how a miserly defence, rather than abundance of goals was the best way to win the title in Ghana.

Kotoko fans have found their voices again. Their strikers have not failed to bang in the goals (6 goals in 4 games), neither have their defenders failed in stopping the goals (conceding only 1 goal in4 games).

The gross indiscipline displayed by players (particularly midfielder Obed Ansah), officials and some supporters of Accra Hearts of Oak on Match Day 4 when they threatened and physically assaulted referee G. Barimansu cannot go unmentioned. Hearts of Oak did not even have the courtesy of displaying remorse. While officials shamelessly jumped to the defence of their team, Unruly Obed Ansah claimed he did not regret his actions and the FA can do whatever they wish to him because they did not employ him. Shameful!!

The disgraceful acts of Accra Hearts of Oak notwithstanding, we saw some meritorious performances in the month of September. I made a compilation of the most impressive performers, from my perspective.

COACH OF THE MONTH (SEPTEMBER) – Bashir Hayford

I will pick Bashir Hayford as the most outstanding coach of the month. He masterminded the impressive performance of league leaders, Kessben FC. Ebo Mends’ (Kotoko) feat of beating Ashgold and Liberty Professionals away from home cannot be written off though. As for Mr. Herbert Addo (Aduana), he might have to prove to us that he can do more than defend.