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Soccer News of Thursday, 24 July 2003

Source: GNA

Would the "Reds" again fade against Arsenals?

Accra, July 24, GNA - The clout and invincibility that surrounded Kumasi Asante Kotoko before their ninth-week league match against Kpando Heart of Lions last Sunday where they lost their first match of the season seem to be fading fast as they appeared to have lost their bearings ever since.

Kotoko's awesome form with which they entered the season where they demolished all the potential threats to their championship aspirations to give some hope to their numerous faithful followers that the title would be their for the taking is gradually loosing grounds.

Recent performances by the porcupine warriors have left their fans scratching their heads and wondering whether the hope was a false one as their team was able to pick only a point from a possible six in their last two games.

Come Sunday, Kotoko would play host to Berekum Arsenals at the Kumasi Sports Stadium in an encounter that has the potential of putting their championship aspirations back on track or proving the sceptics who had all along doubted their ability to play consistently at the top right. The encounter even though appear a straight forward encounter for the fabulous boys can turn sour as Arsenals have proved in the past that they are a hard nut to crack in their encounters in Kumasi.

If what happened to Kotoko in their last match against Okwawu on Wednesday is anything to go by, they should brace themselves for a fight of their lives, as Arsenals would give them a tough ride.

With Arsenals' desire to get something out of this match buoyed by their poor performance in their last encounter where they dropped three valuable points at home to Power F/C makes the match more exciting. But Kotoko, in a desperate need to consolidate their position on top of the table seeing their rivals, Hearts, close on their heels would not tolerate Arsenals to cause any further harm to their reputation.

Accra Hearts of Oak seeing the gab between them and Kotoko narrowed as a result of the spirited performance of Okwawu, would welcome Preatea Mine Stars to the Accra Sports Stadium.

In the past Hearts supporters would have seen the match with a forgone conclusion of a win but these days the Phobians have been struggling to win against less fancied sides at home.

But with Hearts thrown a lifeline by the present down turn in the fortunes Kotoko would not tolerate any form of stubbornness from the Preatea boys, as they would put in every sinew to win to keep them within the reach of Kotoko.

The third of the Accra derbies would come off on Saturday when in-form Liberty Professionals play host to Okwawu United who are fighting hard to push themselves away from the bottom ranks of the table.

An enthralling match awaits fans as both sides appear to have shed their early season erratic performances and are playing well in recent matches. But as to whether Okwawu would have enough strength left in them after that spirited display against Kotoko would be a major factor that would determine the eventual winner.

At the Sekondi Gyandu park, Hasaacas would play host to Accra Great Olympics in a match of equals whiles RTU look set to win all the three points against tottering Stay Cool Professionals at Bolga.

At Obuasi, Goldfields who quickly exorcised the ghost of the 5-2 defeat to Fiasal last Sunday with an impressive 4-0 win over RTU in their outstanding league match on Wednesday are likely to continue the scoring spree as they host BA United.

Bofoakwa would have a fight in their hands as they welcome giant killer Kpando Heart of Lions to the Coronation Park in an encounter that could go either way.

Power and King Faisal rounds up the fixtures in another exciting encounter to be full fire at the Koforidua Sports stadium.