Okwawu United, Eleven Wise to Seek Premiership Return

Former Premier League sides, Okwawu United, Sekondi Eleven Wise, Great Mariners and Prestea based Mine stars, are set to seek a return to the elite division of Ghanaian soccer after qualifying to participate in this year’s National Middle League.

The four, together with eight other qualified clubs will be contesting for the three slots allocated to Division One clubs after the end of the Premiership when the bottom three on the table will suffer outright relegation.

This year’s Middle League which has seen a change from that of previous competitions, will this season see the twelve qualified clubs being grouped into three Zones comprising of four clubs in each zone, where they will engage themselves in an all-play-all situation after which winners of the three zone will qualify to participate in the Premier League next season after their three rounds of matches.

According to officials of the Division One League Board, there will be nothing like play-off this season as it will be a three-go, three-come affair. This they claim will mainly cut down traveling cost to club officials as well as stress on the players which often results in poor standard of play during the latter stages of the Middle League where players use to play about seven matches before the end of the Middle League.

Zone one will comprise of clubs like, new entrants Lepo Stars who are based in Bolga, Catholic Stars, Aduana Stars as well as Wa Real United, which is owned by Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kwasi Nyantakyi.

Kumasi based Kessben F.C, former Premier League side Mine Stars, who are based in Prestea, Sekondi Eleven Wise, also a former Premiership side and Samartex, will be making the Zone two.

However, the last group, Zone three, which has been described by many as the group of death due the clubs involved, will have the likes of former Premier League side, Okwawu United, who became a fantastic side after exhibiting some dismal performances in the start of the competition, hardworking Tudu Mighty Jets, who finished as winners ahead of Okwawu United in zone 3A, Great Mariners, formerly Ghapoha and Nania F.C, owned by former skipper of the senior national team, Black Stars and three-times African best player, Abedi Ayew Pele.