A New Dawn, as Star Premier League Kicks off

A new year, a new season, a new name and the Star Premier League kicks off this Saturday. And if pre season action could be used as an indicator, then this year's league would be one of the most keenly contested in recent memory. The start, which is a bit behind schedule due to a number of court cases filed against the FA delayed the play-off between Power F/C and Obuasi Adansiman to determine which of them joins the elite division. As connoisseurs of the game take a deep look into the crystal ball to see who is likely to come out tops, come November when the League is supposed to end, one name, which is on all lips is Accra Hearts of Oak.

The Super Champions of Africa, having capped a wonderful season by winning their first continental trophy last year in an emphatic fashion and having virtually dominated the local scene are bookmakers' favourites to hit an encore. Whether they would be able to repeat this enviable feat is what their supporters are asking since most of the regulars have been listed for transfer to European clubs. Hearts will be spared league action on the opening day because of their continental assignment against Etoile du Congo on Sunday. Looking at the quality of players the Phobians have been able to rake into their fold one would realise that Harry Zakkour and his management team are not in the mood to relinquish any of their trophies without a fight. The inclusion of the likes of controversial Bernard Don Bortey from Ghapoha, George Eranio form King Faisal and Odartey Lawson from city rivals Great Olympics is an indication of the preparedness of the champions to defend their trophies. Mathew Attiogbe, Steven Owusu and Abdul Razak all recruited from relegated Dwarfs and intelligent Dan Oppong from Bofoakwa are equally good players who can help Hearts launch a successful assault once more. Another thing going well for the champions is that a chunk of their first team players was kept very busy during the off season, featuring regularly for the Black Stars, thereby retaining their fitness and form which would be utilised to continue their domination of Ghana soccer.

Fans of the fabulous club, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, who have watched in agony teams, like Obuasi Goldfields and Hearts snatch all the glory since the inception of the professional league think they have endured enough and it is time for them to assume a leadership role in Ghana soccer. Under their charismatic chairman Herbert Mensah, Kotoko have moved from the rebuilding stage of the club, where they took pains to dissect the problems and put up professional structures to ensure the team succeeds. Based on their performance during the pre season, where they played almost all the premier league sides winning over 14 matches and losing only to Asuom based Kwabibirem, which defeat they had since avenged, Kotoko are poised to carry the fight to the other clubs. No matter how lowly Mr Herbert Mensah ironically, pegs the chances of his team no one should be under any illusion of their ability when hostilities begin. Even though Kotoko have not been that busy on the transfer market compared to last year, they have recruited a mixture of experience and youth. Kotoko's signings for the season seem to be well orchestrated by their German coach Ernst Middendorp who has been able to bring in players to fit into problem spots the team identified last season. The likes of Nana Frimpong from King Fiasal and Joe Okyere who have much professional experience look a sure bet to end the goal scoring drought of the team, while Joe Sam from Dwarfs, Abedi Sarfo, Osei Kwame and Angelo Dedon would oil the midfield. For the defence, which has been one of his sour points in the previous seasons the coach has been able to obtain the services of goalkeeper Louis Quainoo from Liberty Professionals. Daniel Acquah from RTU, Godfred Yeboah from Bofoakwa and promising youngsters like Patrick Doodo, Michael Ofosu Appiah and William Thompson from Senior Secondary Schools in the Kumasi metropolis are budding stars who are waiting for the spoil. Obuasi Goldfields have always been potential champions ever since they won the league three times on the trot, but their last triumph was four years ago and ever since, they have remained on the fringes with nothing much as testimony. The Aboakese lads have been on the quiet during the pre season, with all their old players at base. They are likely to beef up their armanda, with some youthful talents from their football academy and look a good bet to slug it out with the big clubs in quest for the supreme honour.

Dansoman based Liberty Professionals have grown in stature year after year since joining the league four years ago, but though they have not won any silver ware, they have been able to cement their place as the second force in Greater Accra above the likes of Olympics and Ghapoha. Club owner, Sly Tetteh has been able to hold onto almost all the key members of his squad, losing only his brilliant goalkeeper Louis Quainoo to Kotoko in a swap with Humphrey Amoah. New signings have been few with Satellite midfield dynamo, Sule Muntari from third division Oweriman United, as the biggest buy. Other recruitment was done in the West African sub region, with Martin Ofoe from ASEC Abidjan and two Togolese imports pitching tent with the Professionals.

Wonder Club; Accra Great Olympics are again doing what they know best as boardroom quibbles have resulted in the sacking of their enigmatic president, Joseph Ade Coker who has been in charge for the past six years. And with just days to the start of the new season the Olympics camp has been thrown into confusion and all preseason activities sunk in disarray. Already information coming from the new Interim Management Committee (IMC) headed by Mr Richard Oblitey Solomon is that Ade Coker sold most of the regular players before stepping down. Some of the players sold are Aziz Ansah, Joe Louis, Samuel Money and Fusani Adams who was sold to Kotoko and many more to other clubs at give away prices, and further weakening an already depleted Olympics squad. The IMC was only given the card "A" of seven regular players, meaning that they have to start from scratch and convince disgruntled players of Olympics to rescind their decision to play for them in the coming season. But if this proves futile then Olympics would be forced to rely on inexperienced players who would find the going very tough before even adjusting and that might see them battling relegation again this season.

Kumasi based King Faisal led by their outspoken owner Alhaji Karim Grunsah may remain the bogy club of most of the big clubs. Though they sold most of their good players, Alhaji Grunsah has the reputation of recruiting great talents who have been anonymous and unveiling them in the professional league to cause havoc to the big teams. Having lost Nana Frimpong and George Eranio to Kotoko and Hearts respectively and with rising stars, Frank Osei and Eric Gawu away to Germany on trials with Dortmund, King Fiasal might not be the team they were last year.

Mid table teams like Okwawu United, Tema Ghapoha, Sekondi Hassacas and the pride of the north Real Tamale United (RTU) would as usual slug it out without making much impact at the top level but are likely to fight tooth and nail to escape relegation. Dawu Youngsters, Bofoakwa and Kwabibibrem may be at the receiving end, especially when they play away from home. Dawu have however revamped their team with players like Mohammed Polo, Samuel Bakai and Shamo Abbey all from Kotoko, as well as some new players from Bofoakwa and Liberty and if their form is complemented with a good technical team, they might spring a surprise.

The new entrants Obuasi Adansiman, Berekum Arsenals and Suhum Maxbees would have a very torrid time especially, during the first half of the league, but their survival would depend on how best they hold their own during this baptismal period. Come November, barring any delays, when the winner would be known all true lovers of football would expect football to be the winner and the unnecessary board room wrangling and crowd violence that descended our soccer during the last season would be a thing of the past.