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Soccer News of Thursday, 23 November 2006

Source: GNA

Kotoko to topple Ashgold

Accra, Nov 23, GNA - Kumasi Asante Kotoko will pose a major threat to Obuasi Ashantigold's lead on the Onetouch Premier League table when the two sides meet in the 12th week clash at the Robert Mensah Sports Stadium in Cape Coast on Sunday.

Matches between the two sides have always been characterized with fire works and thrills and Sunday's encounter will not be different as the results this time around play a significant role on the table. It is for this reason that both sides are simply in no mood to drop any point on the day but rather seek to grab all the three points at stake.

Even though serving a home match ban as a result of a crowd violence in their game against Heart of Lions, confidence seems to be beaming in the camp of the 93Porcupine Warriors=94, as they are determined to pick all the points at stake in a bid to topple the Miners who have remained on top of the table for greater parts of the 11 week old league.

The defending champions, however, believe they have what it takes to overtake Ashantigold who have secured a place in the next edition of the CAF Champions League.

Aside this, Kotoko are counting on the three points to enter into the record books as the first placed Club, when the continental representatives are declared at the end of the month of November. The Miners, led by their tough-talking trainer, David Duncan are however thinking otherwise and insist that Kotoko cannot dethrone the team from the apex of the table.

Duncan believes that the climax of Ashgold's return to continental action is to maintain their position till the end of the league, which will eventually end years' of starvation of the league title.

The coach will obviously count on the youthful exuberance of the likes of Alhaji Sannie, Kweku Sarpong and Opoku Agyemang coupled with the experience of Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, captain Anthony Baffoe, Alfred Arthur and Valentine Atem among others to hand Kotoko their first defeat since Turkish coach, Telat Uzum took over the technical affairs of the Fabulous lads.

The Turk on the other hand seems to have found a solution to the striking problems of the Club in young Kwame Obeng Darko who has being their saviour in the last two games alongside the combination of skipper Edmund Owusu Ansah, Kobina Dodzie and George Yamoah who can be deadly on a good day to fetch for the maximum three points.

Liberty Professionals will have to overcome their inconsistencies in the premiership to enable them beat Power FC as they seek a place on the continental train.

Any result short of victory will shutter the dreams of the Dansoman-based team who want to crown their 10th anniversary with a continental berth.

At the Sunyani Coronation Park, Great Olympics will have a dicey duel against a King Faisal side, who are experiencing an unpleasant season since joining the elite division.

Heart of Lions are favourites in their clash against Hasaacas who are not perennial good away performers at the Kpando Stadium. Berekum Arsenal looks set to send Real Tamale United (RTU) packing from the Golden City Park empty handed whilst Real Sportive and Tema Youth sort things out in a dicey local derby at the Tema Stadium. All Blacks and Feyenoord will engage each other in a match of equals, with a stalemate the likely result at the Swedru Stadium. Earlier on Saturday, Hearts of Oak will seek for a third consecutive home victory when they meet stubborn Tano Bofoakwa at the Tema Park. 23 Nov. 06