Clash of the Titans: Who emerges victorious on Sunday?

When the fixtures for the 2013/2014 Premier League came out, as usual the one fixture everyone looked for was the Super Clash between Ghana’s two biggest clubs, Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko.

Indeed, some have questioned why the big game was scheduled for match day 2, but after careful thought, the only educated guess I can make is that perhaps the organisers of the Premier League expect both clubs to be in the hunt for the title and that means that the match day 29 clash between the two clubs in Kumasi could turn out to be a title decider.

Well, for some of us, having a match of this magnitude this early is the shot in the arm the Ghana Premier league needs in terms of regenerating interest in the competition.

There is no doubt that Hearts of Oak were the best team of the second round last season. Head coach David Duncan must be commended for the remarkable turnaround in the team’s fortunes.

Indeed, the Phobians lost only one game in the second round and they have pressed on well since then. In addition to relatively high profile signings in Kweku Andoh, Selasi Adjei, Emmanuel Hayford and Sampson Cudjoe, very sensible low profile signings of players like Eric Kumi and whiz kid Kenneth Okoro has given Duncan a good balance.

With the likes of Kofi Abanga, Winful Cobbinah, Gilbert Fiamenyo and the defencisve duo of Sulley Nuru and Robin Gnagne, coupled with the rampaging runs of Owusu Bempah from left back, this is as good a Heart of Oak team as the side that won the title back in 2009.

Duncan himself might be controversial with the kind of things he says at times, but he is indeed a fine Premier League coach and he has indeed been hailed by former management member Azeez Haruna Futah as the finest coach in Ghana. Obviously that comment is bound to spark of a fierce debate because I know fans of Asante Kotoko will probably disagree.

Hearts of Oak opened the new campaign with a fine 2-0 win over New Edubiase United with Hayford grabbing a brace. So the Phobians will head into the Super Clash on Sunday in a confident mood.

With the Porcupine Warriors, so much water has passed under the bridge. Indeed, compared to the happenings in Kumasi over the close season, this has been the calmest close season Hearts of Oak has ever had, with the only change being the appointment of Neil Armstrong-Mortagbe as the club’s new Managing Director.

In contrast, Dr. Kofi Kodua Sarpong resigned as the Executive Board Chairman for Asante Kotoko and so the club owner and Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II had to ask club legend, Opoku Nti to step in in an acting capacity.

Mas-Ud Dramani, who probably would have left the club if the Sarpong-led Board has remained in place, stayed on as the club’s head coach after leading Asante Kotoko to a successful title defence in his debut season in Ghana’s top flight.

A new Board has since been reconstituted and Opoku Nti is the acting General Manager until the end of the year. Despite this, the club managed to get some good players in to augment the squad.

Attacking full back Christopher Bonney was recruited from the Unistar Academy after a good season on loan with Dwarfs, whilst New Edubiase United defender Abeiku Ainooson was brought in to replace Rashid Sumaila.

Jordan Opoku returned to the club from Berekum Chelsea whilst Yahaya Mohammed also returned after a successful loan spell with Amidaus Professionals.

Veteran Stephen Oduro re-signed for the club whilst Michael Akuffu renewed his contract with the club. Asante Kotoko had one home match ban to serve and so they played against Aduana Stars in Sunyani and won 2-1 after a tough duel.

Clearly the stage has been set for an exciting encounter on Sunday. For Asante Kotoko, Isaac Amoako covered himself in glory in Sunyani and so would be expecting to retain his place against Hearts of Oak, but he faces stiff opposition from first choice goalkeeper Soulama Abdoulaye, who has just received his work permit.

Again, Joseph Ochaya might want to put pressure on Eric Donkor for that left back slot. Otherwise, it is as you were, with Kwabena Adusei and Abeiku Ainooson in the centre of defence, with Bonney down the right.

Michael Akuffu will be expected to partner Jordan Opoku in the middle together with Yahaya Mohammed whilst perhaps Richard Mpong supplies the ammunition for the likes of Seidu Bancey and Abdul Aziz Yusif.

For Hearts of Oak, Tetteh Lugard will retain his place in goal, with Kweku Andoh, Robin Gnagne, Nuru Sulley and Owusu Bempah across the back four.

Hayford is currently battling to be fit for the Super Clash, but in case he fails to make it, an experienced hand like Obed Ansah could step in, and with Stephen Tetteh recovering from injury, the Phobians can easily cover for the suspension-enforced absence of Moro Abubakar.

That could see Abraziz Abankwa dropping to the bench, after he played as part of a five man defence against New Edubiase United over the weekend in Bekwai.

Winful Cobbinah scored against Asante Kotoko in the same fixture last term and could start alongside Adjei up front, with Thomas Abbey providing width down the left.

Of course the above is conjecture because both Duncan and Dramani would be keeping their cards very close to their chests, but what is certain is that there will be no quarter given and none taken when both clubs start on Sunday.

It will definitely be a packed Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday afternoon as Duncan and Dramani engage in a battle of wills. Whatever happens, it is hoped that football becomes the ultimate winner and apart from that, there is a regeneration of interest in our local football.

Probable line ups

Hearts XI: Lugard – Andoh, Sulley, Gnagne, Bempah – Hayford, Ansah – Kumi, Cobbinah, Abbey – Adjei

Kotoko XI: Amoako – Bonney, Ainooson, Adusei, Donkor – Akuffu, Opoku – Yahaya, Yusif, Mpong - Bancey