Can Asante Kotoko sustain their momentum?

Action in the GLO Premier League is set to continue with some thrilling match ups. World Sports Centre previews Matchday 22.

Leaders Kumasi Asante Kotoko will be aiming to maintain their position atop the league table against New Edubiase despite the club’s current turmoil regarding a FIFA order to make compensation payments to former coach Hans Dieter Schmidt, to the tune of 99,000 Euros within the next 30-days or risk being relegated to Division Two or worse.

Kotoko per the ruling must also pay the 64-year old coach an additional 11,000 Swiss Francs (9,100 Euros) as legal charges accumulated over a seven-year period. To say the Porcupine warriors face an uphill task will be a huge understatement. Whether Maxwell Konadu’s boys will be able to focus on business on the pitch remains to be seen.

There’s no doubt that New Edubiase will capitalize on the slightest lapse in concentration on the part of Kotoko. A win for the Edubiase lads will move up within the top four on the league table. Ashgold have been impressive in the second round of the GLO Premier league and seem intent on keeping their unbeaten run intact as they come up against bottom placed Bechem United at the Len Clay stadium. The miners have been in red hot form with striker Yakubu Mohammed leading the charge.

The striker has been in rich form this season having found the back of the net eleven times already. The match is a must win for Bechem United who are in desperate need of points, and will undoubtedly go all out to secure maximum points, to lift them off the relegation zone.

Accra Hearts of Oak have been inconsistent in a season many expected them to produce the form that made them such a nightmare for opposing teams in seasons past. The Phobians now lie in fourth place and twelve points behind rivals Asante Kotoko.

Coach C.K. Akunnor will be hoping to earn his first win against Aduana Stars after losing on his debut to Liberty Professionals. Aduana occupy the third position on the log and will be no pushover at Dormaa Ahenkro.

The home team will be aiming to reclaim the second spot after being pushed to third by Ashgold and only a win can ensure that. Hearts will need to win to give themselves any chance of catching up with rivals Asante Kotoko and avoid slipping further below the league standings.

Wa All Stars and Wassaman United square off in another tricky duel at Bekwai. Wa All Stars will aiming to keep their hopes of a top four finish alive as they welcome the Tarkwa based club.

Wassaman will be hoping to clinch all three points to lift them off the drop zone. Indeed leaving Bekwai empty handed could prove detrimental to their hopes of staying in the premier league beyond this season.

After their giant killing feat against Morocco’s Raja Casablanca, Berekum Chelsea is expected to run over Ebusua Dwarfs at the Golden City Park. Dwarfs who were beaten in their last game by Asante must avoid defeat to ensure they maintain their mid table position. A defeat can potentially see them closer to the relegation zone.

Berekum Chelsea will no doubt be buoyed by their performance in the CAF Champions league against one of the continent’s heavy weights. Striker Emmanuel Clottey who hit hat trick in that encounter will surely go into this match with his confidence sky high.

Other matches to complete week 22 of the GLO Premier league will see Liberty Professionals taking on Mighty Jets, Medeama against Arsenal while Tema youth play Kpando Hearts of Lions.

GLO Premier League Week 22 fixtures:

AshantiGold FC vs Bechem United Tema Youth vs Heart of Lions Medeama SC vs Arsenals Liberty vs Mighty Jets Aduana Stars vs Hearts of Oak Wa All Stars vs Wassaman United Asante Kotoko vs Edubiase FC Berekum Chelsea vs Dwarfs