Chelsea begins title defence against Mighty Jets

Accra, Oct. 7, GNA - The 2011/2012 Premier League kicks off this weekend with the opening round of matches at the various approved centres.
The commencement of the League has however been overshadowed by the Black Stars crucial 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan, which takes place 24-hours earlier at the Al Hilal Stadium in Omdurman, Sudan.
The 30-week long season will begin on Saturday between Berekum Arsenal and Accra Hearts of Oak at the Robert Mensah Stadium in Cape Coast. Arsenal, who play their home games at their favourite Golden City Park, Berekum, are serving a three-match ban inflicted on them by the Disciplinary Committee and the clash against the Phobians will be their final with the ban.
Defending champions, Berekum Chelsea start the season as favourites following their performance during the pre-season and recruitment of players to beef up the team.
This is the first time the favourites’ tag is put around the neck of any other Club other than the traditional giants, Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko and to some extent Obuasi Ashantigold.
Despite the huge signings, the reigning champions loss to Division One campaigners, Nania FC in the Super Cup last Sunday has alerted most Clubs that the ‘Blues’ of Ghana football are after-all beatable.
The Berekum lads boast of probably the best players on the local scene with the likes of Baba Adamu ‘Armando,’ Charles Taylor, Kweku Andoh, Gladson Awako, Collins Addo and Joseph Tachie-Menson amongst other and together with old guards of Abdul Basit, Yaw Alexander,Jackson Owusu, Samuel Kyere, Alfred Arthur and Ernest Sowah, they appear poised to scoop every silverware on the local scene.
Chelsea are therefore highly favoured against Tudu Mighty Jets in the opening encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday. After escaping the drop narrowly last season, the hosts are eyeing a bright start to boost their chances of survival this term.
The next centre of attraction will be at the Tema Park, where returnees Tema Youth play host to high-flying Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
After an emphatic 3-1 win over archrivals Hearts of Oak last week, the Porcupine Warriors will be hoping to scale over the premiership returnees to confirm that their off-season performances was no fluke.
Tema Youth has served tough customers for Asante Kotoko since joining the elite division and have promised to repeat the dose over the 21-time League champions, with a recall of a nightmarish record at the Tema Park during the era of Ghapoha Readers, Afienya United and Real Sportive.
“Mourning” Liberty Professionals will be at home to Aduana Stars at the Carl Reindorf Park, Dansoman with Ashantigold hosting Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs at the Len Clay Stadium, Obuasi whilst Heart of Lions face debutants Wassaman United at their Kpando Park.
New entrants Bechem United will lock horns against New Edubaise United at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi.