Accra Hearts of Oak will throw the Dawu township into frenzy today when they play as guests of Dreams FC as a top-liner of an action-packed weekend for the betPawa Ghana Premier League (GPL) which enters Match day 25.
Hearts currently lie in third-place and have set an agenda to clear any obstacle in their bid to dislodge league leaders Aduana Stars to keep their title ambitions on course.
After dismissing the bluff of Accra Lions in midweek, Dreams FC will be the next team to taste the Phobian fury in a game expected to be full of fireworks.
But when it comes to Dreams FC, the Phobians would need no prophesy to understand the enormity of the task ahead of them.
Dreams FC has been inconsistent this season but always find the right rhythm to face the Phobians.
In their recent visits to Accra, they have managed to secure a few positive results and would be in a better position to apply the brakes on the Phobian train.
However, Hearts must put together all the arsenal available to clinch all three points and stay within the top four places.
The likes of Kwadwo Obeng Jnr, Caleb Amankwah and Linda Mtange would, therefore, be instrumental in realizing the dream to cut the Dream FC lads to size.
Hearts appear a potent side to annex the points from this game but recent collapse in matches away from the capital would surely give Dreams FC a simple message – that the Phobians are beatable and would go for nothing short of that.
Also today at the Accra Sports Stadium would be another dicey clash between home side Accra Lions against King Faisal Babes.
Both are coming into this game from mixed outcomes in the previous round of games in the competition.
While the Lions would have to put their defeat to local rivals Hearts behind and go all out for a win, Faisal would be spurred by a 3-2 victory over Karela United at the Abramkese Stadium.
Guided by veteran Godwin Ablordey, Faisal fought back gamely from a goal down to win 3-2 to boost their relegation fight against fellow strugglers at the bottom ranks of the table.
But the Lions’ may not be ready for the second consecutive defeat, knowing that they may not find the next game away easy and would need to win to secure their position.
Equally, the points at stake is so crucial for Alhaji Gruzah’s boys as they attempt to win the relegation dog-fight against Great Olympics, Legon Cities, Tamale Cities, Real Tamale United and Karela United.
In Accra, it looks an insurmountable task for Faisal considering the form of the Lions who are bent on finishing the season in a respectable fashion.
Faisal’s position after the week’s round of matches would also be determined by the outcome of the Great Olympics clash against Berekum Chelsea at the Accra Sports Stadium tomorrow.
It can also be stretch to Asante Kotoko’s game against Real Tamale United at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium tomorrow.
Interestingly, Olympics and Real Tamale United are deeply embroiled in the demotion fight, having found themselves in the lower sections of the table and have become desperate with 10 games to end the season.
Of the three games that kick-start the survival showdown, those of Faisal playing in Accra and Real Tamale United in Kumasi seem very challenging than the Accra home game for Olympics who appeared to be playing well but paying for unpardonable errors and lack of concentration.
The AGOSU side has also not been luck with fair officiating.
But they could return to winning ways if they are able to remain focused, adopt positive tactics and take a few risks.
Despite having some of the finest mid-fielders in the competition, Olympics have struggled to dominate games and to be clinical in front of goals.
Defensively, they seem to also be shipping too many goals, leaving Coach Kobbi-Mensah and his technical team with a huge hurdle to climb as they face Berekum Chelsea, another bogey side of the club in Accra.
The points dropped against Legon Cities in Accra and the mid-week defeat to Real Tamale United have not gone down well with fans and management of the club and appear to have caused ‘fear and panic’ among a section of the fan.
But Chelsea on their own have their own issues and are aware of the points difference between clubs and would take no chances as they try to consolidate their position.
Sadly for Real Tamale United, Kotoko have garnered just a point from two games after losing in Kumasi to Medeama and drawing with Legon Cities and would therefore show no favours as they target a win for two purposes – restore smiles on supporters’ faces and stay with other contenders at the top.
But after staging a brilliant second half display to defeat Olympics, REAL Tamale United would attempt an upset in front of the Porcupine followers as they aim to improve their position on the table.
Karela, perhaps, may have given their followers a false hope when they thrash Hearts of Oak 3-0 at their favourite grounds in Ainyenasi but when they had the chance to prove that was no fluke, they failed against a fraught King Faisal side.
Come tomorrow, they have another opportunity to bounce back when they face Samartex in what appears a game of equals.
Samartex have been impressive so far, consolidating a mid-table position throughout the season but are not yet in a position to let their guards down.
This therefore leaves the two side with points to vie for in what is expected to favour the home team.
At Akim Oda, Kotoku Royals will engage Medeama SC in another game expected to be full of thrills and excitement as the host, relegation candidates, and attempt to spoil the party of opponents.
Tamale City will have a difficult task to accomplish when they travel to Dormaa to face the might of the leaders, Aduana Stars.
The leaders may be feeling the pressure now as Hearts and Accra Lions push hard and would leave no stone unturned in their bid to get a chunk of the 30 points left for grabs.
Aduana has been very strong at home and are clear favourites to maintain the lead or even stretch it in case the chasers slip but would regret if they allow complacency in their games.
Elsewhere, Nsoatreman would engage Bechem United at Nsoatre while Bibiani Gold Stars lock horns with Legon Cities on Monday.
BY ANDREW NORTEY
