Glo Premier League Review: Round 1

Prince Attakora-Gyima of Kessben FC set the season to a flying start with his 17th minute goal against home side and city rivals King Faisal at the Babayara stadium. On Week 1 of the Glo Premiership, 12, 12 goals were scored. Only two clubs managed (Heart of Lions and Ashgold) home wins. Kessben FC was the only away winner.Three games ended in draws with goals and 1 in a goalless draw. On the match day, three penalty kicks were awarded  to home teams.

 Some outstanding players were Richard Mpong of Kessben FC, Samuel Ayew Yeboah of Eleven Wise, goal keeper Muntari Tagoe of Accra Hearts of Oak, Mohammed Tanko of Heart of Lions, Prince Attakora Gyima of Kessben FC, Samuel Yaw Owusus of Berekum Arsenals. Find full details of results below:

 OHENE DJAN: Great Olympics-Asante Kotoko

Referee: Cecil Fletcher

0-1 Ofosu Appiah

1-1 James Abban(PK)

Glo Premier League Preview 2009/2010: Week 1

Glo Premier League begins this weekend with some hot encounters. Unless I miss my guess, we are in for some exciting match-ups. Two of the games are regional derbies while there is a game between allies. The two new entrants, Aduana Stars and New Edubiase FC are all on away assignments where they are likely to have a baptism of fire. Find below a game-by-game preview:

OHENE DJAN: Great Olympics – Asante Kotoko

The return of Ghana’s ‘Wonder Club’ Great Olympics couldn’t have come with a more exciting clash. Olympics and Kotoko have been sweet allies in the past. The Kotoko-Oly friendship was perhaps born out of the common spite for Champions Hearts of Oak. However, this friendship must be shoved to the gutters if Olympics are to make clear their determination to avoid relegation. Great Olympics goes into this game with a much more youthful team. Ben Mensah, Bilal Mohammed, Bright Bortey and Eric Adjei will be players to watch out for in coach Dauda Lutterodt’s side.

Taking over from a club that is struggling to find wins, it is going to be interesting to see how Paa Kwasi Fabien will be able to pick from the 48 players available to him to overcome the Great Olympics challenge. Will the inclusion of Baafuor Gyan from FC Saturn in Russia and Kabiru Imoro come as a blessing to the Fabulous lads? Olympics should not mess up with any of the following as they can each produce an ego deflating performance: Kwabea Yaro, Francis Coffie and Stephen Manu (B.A, they call him)

Prediction: Great Olympics 2:1Asante Kotoko

Glo Premier League 09/10: What to expect from the clubs

It is 15 Hours GMT on Sunday 16th October. Fired-up players troop to the pitch. Referee Reginald Latbridge looks at his watch seconds after he finishes counting the players. The atmosphere is charged with rhythmic ‘nsamanmo’ from different groups around the stadium together with never-ending beautiful noise of the from hundreds of vuvuzelas. The is anxiety, there are great expectations, there is excitement and then there is hope. The hope of going all the way to the top of table. Viva the Glo Premiership 2009/20010! 

Somewhere in the VIP section, a club official squirms uncomfortably in his seat. This is a make-or-break season. Somewhere at the popular stand there is an explosive argument about the abilities of the new coach which is deteriorating into near fisticuffs. One ‘nsamanmo-chanting’ choir is not about to stop circling the outer perimeter. A player prays against injuries this season. Another wonders if this is his year. The heat is on! 

Eight Glo Premier League venues will come alive each week this season with some of the best Football Made in Ghana.  Sixteen teams; 30 weeks and 240 exciting games – Only one club will see glory. That club which will display enough  mental toughness, technical superiority, tactical aptness and a lot of ‘ways and mean’ will be crowned champions of The Glo Premier League 2009/2010!  

I look forward to an exciting season. Of course, given that this is the Ghanaian league, I will not be in denial – there will be the usual troubles of board and court room wrangling;  bad officiating and crowd violence. Hopefully this year we will record the minimum of such vices. But let me take you through three things to expect from each of the 16 clubs. First, I tell you what to expect in general, then I mention three players you should look out for and then I make a prediction of the likely position of the team.