1975

Membership of the first division was increased once more from 14 to 18. Bottom clubs Susu Biribi and Fankobaa were spared relegation. Instead of relegation four more clubs were promoted: Defence Stars, Nsawam Ghanacan, Gbewa and Obuotabiri from Koforidua.

This was one of the best seasons for Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Sekondi Eleven Wise, the Western Show Boys.

The two clubs set a terrific pace: Kotoko went undefeated in the first seven outings and were halted only in the eighth week by bogey side Sekondi Hasaacas, 2-0, at the famous Gyandu Park in Sekondi.

Kotoko, however, avenged their defeat in the second round with a splendid 4-1 win over Hasaacas at Kumasi Stadium. The marksmen were Opoku Afriyie, Gordon Prempeh, Osei Kwame and Dan Oppong.

Eleven Wise also had a field day with an unbeaten streak of 13 matches until they were halted by Accra Hearts of Oak in Accra, courtesy a goal by goal thief Peter Lamptey.

Other notable features of the season were that Eleven Wise suffered only one home defeat and this was at the hands of B.A United. It was the very first match of the second round and the destroyer was Soccer Articulator, Agyemang Badu.

The two traditional League winners, Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak, shared the four points at stake equally between them. Kotoko beat Hearts 2-0 in Kumasi during the first round and Robert Foleys lone goal earned Hearts sweet revenge in the second round in Accra.

Swedru All Blacks had the distinction of drawing both at home and away with Asante Kotoko: 1-1 each away.

Hearts international star, Robert Hammond, hit the headlines when he registered for city rivals Great Olympics. It was a near battle between the two clubs as Hearts made a fruitless search for Hammond during the registration exercise. He was reportedly kidnapped by top officials of Olympics who were believed to have connections in the ruling military government of the Supreme Military Council (SMC). Hammond was to spend only a season with Olympics before returning to his natural habitat Hearts of Oak.

On the whole, Asante Kotoko, inspired by young striker, 20-year old Opoku Afriyie, netted a total of 76 goals in 34 matches to win the league.

Opoku's 27 goals tally, however, fell short by one to Dan Owusus haul of 28. Owusu retained the goal king crown sponsored by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG). But Opoku will still be remembered for his two spectacular hat-tricks against Ghanacan whom Kotoko beat 7-1, and B.A United when he got all the three goals. Again, when Kotoko routed Gbewa 7-0 in Kumasi, Opoku Afriyie scored four times. Owusu-Sekyere netted twice and Malik had the other goal.