Ghana PL Week 1: Match Preview and Predictions
The much anticipated Ghana Premier League 2020-21 season is scheduled to take off on the weekend of November 14-15,2020 across the various league centres in the country.
Legon Cities FC will be involved in a late kickoff against travelling Berekum Chelsea at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The nouveau-riche side signed lots of players in the just-ended transfer window, the notable pick was the legendary captain of the Blackstars, Asamoah Gyan.
His inclusion should spur Goran Barjaktarevic’s side from the 15th positioned they placed a season ago prior to the cancellation of the league.
Berekum Chelsea were amazing last season, they managed to chalk impressive results beating top sides in Accra Hearts of Oak, Kotoko, Ashgold and drawing Aduana Stars something they will look back on deriving lots of inspiration heading into this season.
The Bibires may have lost Goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim, skipper Zackaria Fuseini, Attuquaye, and experienced defender Ahmed Adams but the addition of James Wiafe, Edward Kpodo, and Jordan Opoku will be a boast for new coach Hesse Odamtten.
The two sides have met twenty(20) times, Chelsea have edged eight (8) wins, Legon Cities with six (6) and six (6) by way of draws.
Prediction : Legon Cities 1-1 Berekum Chelsea
Former Ghana Premier League champions, AshantiGold will fancy their chances when they come up against, Karela United in week one of 2020-21 season at the Obuasi Ley Clay Sports Stadium. Both teams will take shots at the three points up for grabs. The miners will see this match, as a must-win platform, if they harbor aspirations of winning the Ghana Premier League yet again following their last triumph half a decade ago. The inclusion of Yaw Annor, Hans Kwofie, Nathaniel Asamoah, Empem Dacosta, and others will inure to their title credentials this season.
The Ayinase-based Karela United will hope to finish better than their 17th placed last season.
Karela United striker, Diawusie Taylor, will have lots of responsibilities bestowed on him to bang the goals for his side. The additions of Richard Baidoo, Augustine Randolf, Yaw Ansah, Godfred Adotey should help the club aim higher this season. Ashgold have won two of the last three meetings between the two sides.
Predictions: Ashgold 2 –1 Karela F. C
Liberty Professionals will meet old foes, Bechem United in a fine classic match at the Carl Reindorf Sports Stadium. Both sides prior to the truncation of the league wowed fans with impressive game results over a fifteen games span.
With a top-five ambition in mind, head coach David Ocloo will rally his boys to give off their best in the first match of the season.
Meanwhile, Bechem United will look to start the season well picking by up all three points, young budding striker, Prince Kwabena Adu will need to put on his goal-scoring boots when his side play at the Carl Reindorff Park on Sunday.
The duo have met twelve (12) times, with neither holding the bragging rights posting six (6) victories over each other.
Prediction: Liberty Professionals 2-1 Bechem United
Tarkwa based Medeama will begin their Ghana Premier League 2020-21 season opener against Great Olympics in Tarkwa on Sunday.
The Mauve and Yellow side have on two occasions gone close to ending their log wait for a Premier League title.
Though they lost the talismanic goal machine, Prince Opoku Agyemang to Cape Town City in the just-ended season, their ability to stand firm and ward off stiff advances from Kotoko regarding Justice Blay declared all intentions for this season.
Accra Great Olympics escaped relegation by the skin of the teeth courtesy, the novel coronavirus. This scare certainly awakens the demon in them, as they dipped into the market to sign players to complement their fragile squad. The inclusion of Ebenezer Sekyere, Charles Danso Otu, Mannan Mudasiru, Michael Otoo, Karim Alhassan, Alhassan Sunday, Mujeeb Hakeem, Arnold Mensah Abbey buoyed by experienced captain Gladson Awako.
Both sides have played nine (9) times with each other winning four (4) respectively with the other ending in a draw. Medeama triumphs over Great Olympics by a solitary goal prior to the cancellation the league last season.
Predictions: Medeama 2-0 Great Olympics
Two regional heavyweights, Ebusua Dwarfs, and Elmina Sharks will battle for supremacy when they take on each other at the Cape Coast Stadium this weekend.
Both teams enjoyed contrasting fortunes in the just-ended season and are set to get the ball rolling when they play each other for the three maximum points and bragging rights.
Dwarfs will breathe a sigh of great relief following their clearance to participate in the league in wake of their liquidation issues hovering around their neck.
They signed just two players, defender Godwin Adikah and midfielder George Asamoah.
Elmina Sharks signed four players notably the inclusion of experienced duo of James Bissue and former Kotoko and TP Mazembe star, Daniel Nii Adjei.
Yaw Acheampong will look to build on last season’s impressive run.
Sharks have won two of the last six meetings, three by way of draw whiles Dwarfs have won only one.
Prediction: Ebusua Dwarfs 1-2 Elmina Sharks
WAFA are strong and fearless at home, the astroturf counts in their favour as clubs find it difficult when playing against them.
This time, they face King Faisal, who have numerous issues to deal with but matches between the two have gone in favour of the latter with the other two ending in draws.
WAFA reinforced their team with the addition of just two players, Michael Kyei Dwamena and Godwin Agbevor.
King Faisal, who didn’t enjoy the former season will quickly move from that dismal season, having lost striker Ibrahim Osman to parent club Kotoko will come as a blow but they will have to forge on signing lots of players in the transfer market.
Prediction: WAFA SC 2-0 King Faisal
Kumasi Asante Kotoko, record holders of the Ghana Premier League will play host to Eleven Wonders in Accra on Sunday, 15 November, 2020.
The Porcupine Warriors have undergone a plethora of changes from the top, a new management headed by Nana Yaw Amponsah, a new boarded backed by Dr. Kwame Kyei and other able men and women tasked with the mandate of helping the Reds return to their glory days on the African terrain.
It’s no surprise that, Kotoko signed lots of players during the transfer session, as many as ten (10) new fresh limps to augment their squad from goalkeeper (Razak Abalora), defender (Patrick Asmah), midfielders (Muniru, Fabio) and other signings to augment their squad ahead of the new season.
Maxwell Konadu has no reason whatsoever not to impress this season considering the signings that have been made on his behalf, they look unplayable on paper.
Eleven Wonders coach Ignatius Osei Fosu, one of the finest men on the touchline is a delight to watch. Having followed him from his days at Liberty Professionals, it’s came as little surprise that he was linked to the top job at Obuasi Ashantigold. He has gone on record to say that; he won’t lose to Kotoko on a third count when he leads his outfit against them.
The side can boast of very good players (Ollenu, Moosie, Zakaria Mugeese) per standards at the club.
Hopefully, this match doesn’t become a walk in the park for Kotoko, when they face off with, Eleven Wonders come this weekend, having beaten them on five (5) previous occasions out of six (6) with a draw in between.
Prediction: Asante Kotoko 2-1 Techiman Eleven Wonders
The crunch season opener clash between Aduana Stars and Accra Hearts of Oak have been called off. This follows a surge in Covid-19 cases that were recorded in the camp of Phobians. The Public Health Services advised for the cancellation of the match to enable it conduct further test on players and staff of the club.
The match will be rescheduled to a later date.
GHANA PREMIER LEAGUE WEERK ONE
Aduana Stars FC – Accra Hearts of Oak SC
Legon Cities FC – Berekum Chelsea FC
Ashanti Gold SC – Karela United FC
Liberty Professionals FC – Bechem United FC
Medeama SC – Accra Great Olympics FC
Ebusua Dwarfs – Elmina Sharks FC
WAFA – King Faisal Babies FC
Asante Kotoko SC – Eleven Wonders FC
Inter Allies FC – Dreams FC
