Accra, June 24, GNA - League leaders Accra Hearts of Oak are under intense pressure to keep their leadership hopes intact as their arch rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Kumasi King Faisal are gradually closing up on them.

Hearts last Wednesday experienced their fourth consecutive defeat in the league, when Swedru All Blacks handed them a 3-1 defeat at the Swedru Stadium. With this developm ent, the six point gap as at the close of the 24th Week has now been reduced to four points between arch rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko and close contenders King Faisal. The new development on the table follows a lone goal win chalked by Kotoko over Chelsea at the Sunyani Coronation Park, whilst Faisal also recorded a 2-0 win over Kessben Football Club at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi.

Kpando Heart of Lions who prior to the 25th Week league games, were second on the table have dropped to the fourth position after holding Sekondi Hasaacas to a two all drawn game at the Essipong Stadium in Sekondi.

Life at the relegation zone remains miserable for bottom placed Sporting Mirren after suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Tema Youth at the Ohene Djan stadium in Accra.

Sporting Mirren from all indications will need to win the remaining five matches to stand any chance of survival as anything short of five successive victories will see them heading back to the wilderness. However other clubs in the down the ladder will also have to fight till the last minute of the 30th Week league matches in order to know their fate since any slip on their part will see any of the clubs from the eighth position dropping into the relegation zone. This is due to the slim point margin between the relegation threatened teams from the eighth position to the bottom. Among the clubs in such situation are Eleven Wise with 33 points, AshantiGold - 32, Liberty - 32, Kessben - 31, RTU 31, All Blacks 30, Hasaacas 28 and Sporting Mirren 19.

With the renaissance of Kotoko in the second round under coach Herbert Addo and the dipping form of Hearts, it is clear that the race for the title will go down to the wire. 24 June 09