Hearts to face the biggest test yet

Accra, July 28, GNA - Struggling defending League Champions, Accra Hearts of Oak seemed to have rediscovered the form which aided them to conquer Africa three years ago when they mauled Prestea Mine Stars 5-0 at the Accra Sports Stadium last Sunday. Four goals in the first half and a fifth in the second, nailed the coffin for Mine Stars and re-enacted the Phobians free scoring prowess exhibited last season. But this new form would be put to test on Sunday as the "Oak tree" treks to battle Kpando Hearts of Lions.

The Lions have declared the Volta region a waterloo for visiting clubs and so far, the only team, which has been able to survive at Kpando, has been Great Olympics who drew 1-1 in their fourth week tie. And even that fate, according to many connoisseurs of the game, was achieved because Olympics head coach, Emmanuel Kwesi Afranie, happened to be a onetime helmsman of the Kpando lads.

Aware of what happened to Kotoko two weeks ago, when they were silenced by a sixth minute goal, Hearts officials say that are not taking anything to chance and are storming Kpando to break that jinx. But that look like an enormous task, isn't it? No wonder the match has already been billed as the top-liner in this weekend's pairings and could live up to it hype. But one must not lose sight of the role of the teeming "borbor" and "asafo" groups of the Lions, for their support could help turn the tie in favour of the Kpando lads.

Elsewhere, Kotoko would have an easy task of holding on to the lead as they welcome Power F/C. Kotoko lost a great opportunity of opening a six-point lead at the top as they only managed a point from two outstanding games and also struggled to beat Berekum Arsenals by a lone goal in Kumasi last Sunday. But this Sunday could be a day of great renaissance for Kotoko, as they come up against lowly Power, who lost at home to King Faisal. Inform Faisal travel to the Sunyani Coronation Park as guests of Brong Ahafo United while Banana Inn-based Stay Cool Professionals welcome Obuasi Goldfields to the Koforidua Park and Great Olympics will be back to the Accra Sports Stadium to lock horns with Real Tamale United.

Mine Stars after losing heavily to Hearts, would try to vent their spleen on Liberty Professionals at Prestea and at Berekum, Arsenals would clash with Bofoakwa. The weekend action would however, kick-start with a clash between resurgent Okwawu United and Sekondi Hasaacas at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday.