1974

Highlanders and Northern United lost their first division status and were replaced by All Blacks and Hasaacas, who bounced back to their natural habitat after a years sojourn in Division Two.

This was a league, which saw the two most popular clubs, Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak, begin rather poorly. Kotoko were beaten at home 1-0 by Mysterious Dwarfs through a Robert Kouffie goal; Hearts lost 1-0 to Bofoakwa Tano at Sunyani via a sizzler from Dan Owusu.

Hearts recovered quickly from this early setback and, after a goalless draw with Fankobaa in Accra, scored a neat 2-1 victory over local rivals, Great Olympics, in the third weeks pairings. Rising star Mohammed Polo got both goals for Hearts.

Asante Kotoko, however, remained badly bruised. They lost again the following week against Hasaacas, 2-0 and it took them six more matches before victory came their way-courtesy Malik Jabirs two goals against Fankobaa in Kumasi in the eighth week.

Kotoko had drawn five times in a row 1-1 with All Blacks in Kumasi, 1-1 with Corners, 2-2 with Susu Biribi at Tafo, another 1-1 with Bofoakwa Tano in Kumasi and yet another 1-1 with Hearts in Accra.

The league turned out to be a keen race between defending champions, Hearts of Oak, and city rivals, Great Olympics. Indeed the two clubs fought neck and neck until a crucial defeat of Hearts of Oak at the hands of Kotoko, and an Olympics victory over Kotoko, settled the issue.

Hearts were beaten 2-0 in Kumasi by Kotoko in the 20th week with Yaw Sam and Malik scoring and Olympics thrashed Kotoko 3-0 in the penultimate fixture at Accra Stadium. Ago Nai, Kissi, and Jonas Adjei were the scorers.

These two results made all the difference in the race for the championship. Incidentally the victory of Olympics meant a remarkable double over Kotoko in the season. Oly had beaten Kotoko 1-0 in the first round in Kumasi through Ahmed Yakubu the elder brother of Mohammed Polo. Dwarfs were the other team that beat Kotoko twice in the season: 1-0 in Kumasi and 2-1 at Cape Coast.

Olympics eventually bagged 39 points to win the league pipping Hearts by two points. Bofoakwa, parading the amazing twin strikers Kwasi Owusu and Dan Owusu placed a respectable third. Dan Owusu won the goal king title.
--Kotoko Express