Preview: Tema Youth - Hearts of Oak

Accra Hearts of Oak kick off their season with a usually keenly contested game against Tema Youth. The Phobians will be looking to pick up a win which will set them up for a season which their fans believe will see them catch up with arch-rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko on the leader board of the competition’s most successful team.

Tema Youth on the other hand will be looking to further consolidate their status as a Premier League club with a win at home to kick off their fifth season overall in the domestic top flight, and the second after their return from relegation suffered in the 2008-2009 season.

Both sides will be confident heading into the game with home advantage giving the Tema boys cause for confidence while the Phobians will point to their solid pre-season form as a sign of things to come, though the draw between Kotoko and Amidaus points to the fact that both home advantage and good pre-season form do not guarantee wins in the premier league and both teams will have to be at the top of their games to gain the much needed result on the day.

The two teams are looking comfortable in terms of player availability going into the match with Jeremiah Ankorful, Derrick Mensah, Moses Ojier and Francis Narh all expected to be available for the match after helping the national Under-20 side, the Black Satellites qualify for next year’s African Youth Championship.