Ghana: survivor battle heats up

The final lap
to bring the curtain down on what has
been an action packed 2014/2015 First
Capital Plus Premier League season filled
with surprises, unexpected twists and
turns has dawned on faithful FCPPL
supporters with yet one more twist and
some murky relegation mathematics to
be untangled at the eleventh hour as at
least six teams find themselves
embroiled in must win games in a bid to
avoid being the two teams to
accompany already relegated BA United
into the wilderness of Division One
soccer.
With the ultimate prize securely in the
grips of AshGold with a game to spare,
the battle for survival remains far from
over – heading right down to the wire
and the final blast of a referee’s whistle
on the last match day of the season as
eight clubs, including WAFA, Heart of
Lions, Asante Kotoko, Hasaacas,
Edubiase, Medeama, Bechem United plus
Gt. Olympics remain mathematically
susceptible to the ‘drop’ and can be
bounced out depending on the outcome
of their respective matches.
Most intriguing of the weekend’s
pairings is certainly the desperate
survival clash between Edubiase and
Heart of Lions with the winner
guaranteed a stay and the loser likely
taking a nosedive into the terrifying and
labor-intensive Division one league
scene. Dethroned champions Asante
kotoko, must put up a winning
performance against Aduana to survive,
and in the only derby clash of the last
round fixtures, BA United will once again
try to play spoilers on the away front
where they have been beyond abysmal –
this time to Bechem’s survival hopes.
Elsewhere WAFA will entertain Hearts
who are unbeaten in their last 4
appearances, and then there is
Medeama, Berekum Chelsea and Liberty
hosting Inter-Allies, Wa All Stars and
Hasaacas respectively.
The coronation of the FCPPL 2014/15
champions will be at the Accra sports
stadium where Ashgold regardless of
the outcome of their game against
Olympics will be handed the coveted
trophy.
The premier league board has ordered
that all games kickoff simultaneously at
3:15 pm.
New Edubiase v. Heart of Lions – Obuasi
City of premier league champions and
adopted venue of Edubiase, Obuasi will
be agog as 9th placed and relegation
threatened Lions visit 12th and equally
threatened Edubiase in a feisty
encounter which will determine the fate
of the two clubs.
Edubiase needs nothing less than a
victory to guarantee their survival
whereas Lions just might survive with a
point though an outright victory will seal
their survival.
The Lions took full advantage of home
court when Edubiase paid them a visit in
the first round by posting a convincing
2-0 victory but this time the honors of
playing at home lie on the door step of
Edubiase and considering they have lost
only once in 14 games at home, the
Bekwai based club stand a huge chance
of picking the maximum points on
Sunday.
Hosts – Edubiase have 39 points from 29
games and have a win and a draw from
their last two outings whilst their guests
are 8th with 40 points from 29 and are
riding a two game home winning run
but they have an awful record on the
road which Edubiase just might be able
to take advantage of.
Asante Kotoko v. Aduana Stars – Kumasi
Asante kotoko whose reign as
Champions ended on match day 29 will
come up against their nemesis Aduana
in a bid to save themselves from
embarrassment and public ridicule with
a victory.
Kotoko were docked six points for
fielding a supposedly unqualified player
in the person of Obed Owusu in their
week 25 clash against Hearts of Oak and
it took a last-gasp goal from Eric Donkor
on their last match day to keep their
survival hopes intact.
Aduana on the other hand have lost their
quest for the coveted title but are in
contention for second place. Aduana, I
must admit fell short in their quest
largely because of their inability to close
out the deal in their last 3 outings;
settling for 2 ties at home and a loss on
the road – 2points out of 9 and winning
just two games on the away front at
lowly BA United and Olympics over the
course of the entire season.
Kotoko can draw inspiration from the
fact that Aduana is yet to win at the Baba
Yara stadium after five attempts but they
should be wary as they have won just
three of their 11 meetings against the
Brong Ahafo giants – 4 defeats and 4
draws.
Both met in the last round of last season
and Aduana who at that time were in
Kotoko’s current situation won 2-0 at
home.
Great Olympics v. Ashanti Gold – Accra
Win or lose, AshGold will be honored
after their game against Olympics at the
Accra sports stadium, and ‘The Miners’
will surely like to cap off a successful
season with another win as well as put a
smile on the faces of their fans who
make the trip down south to witness
their coronation.
Their opponents Olympics, sitting last
but one with 37 points, are as it stands
candidates to be relegated after
dropping points at Lions unless they
claim the maximum points and pray the
‘soccer gods’ for a slip from one of the
teams ahead of them.
Olympics didn’t start the season brightly
but getting to the latter end of the first
round they upped their performance.
They went unbeaten in six games,
subsequently moving to the 6th spot
before a series of defeats after the break
plunged them into the trouble zone. And
though Olympics have lost only one in
eight games, a possible demotion stares
them in the face with their destiny riding
in their own hands.
AshGold defeated WAFA 1-0 courtesy of
Emmanuel Baffour’s converted penalty to
end a long wait for the title. For Coach
Bashiru Hayford this game will serve as
an assessment of his technical abilities
as he preps his team for an awesome
journey into CAF competition.
WAFA v. Hearts of Oak – Sogakope
Arguably the team that has exhibited the
finest football, WAFA, who lost 1-0 at
Ashgold needs to earn a point to survive
when they host Hearts of Oak at the
Sogakope Park.
Hearts who won a highly contested
fixture against Berekum Chelsea by 3
goals to 2 will surely aim for the win to
prop up into the top four at the expense
of the Sogakope based club who have
their premier league spot for next
season in danger of extinction.
Hearts won the first leg 1-0 – thanks to
Gilbert Fiamenyo who has confirmed his
departure from the club at the end of
current campaign following the
expiration of his contract and the
unwillingness of Hearts to serve him
another contract.
Hearts who occupy the 5th spot on the
log have registered three straight
victories against WAFA since the latter
debuted in 2006. Expect WAFA who have
lost their last two outings – all on the
away front and just once at home this
season to put up a spirited performance
in their bid to escape the drop.
Berekum Chelsea v. WA All Stars –
Berekum
The Blues, who were dealt a first leg 1-0
defeat in WA will aim to finish their
season on a high and also preserve their
unbeaten home record with a victory
against All Stars.
All Stars confirmed their stay in the
premiership after their 2-0 win over
Medeama and must redouble their
efforts to succeed in Berekum.
Bragging rights, revenge and jockeying
for position on the log may seem the
most important in this encounter but the
loser of this one can take a tumble into
the bottom half of the log.
Berekum Chelsea who lie 6th with 41
points have five wins, five draws and
three losses against All Stars who have
the 7th spot with the same points.
Bechem united v. BA. Utd – Bechem
Bechem United have a golden
opportunity to escape demotion as they
welcome demoted BA in the only derby
of the match day.
Bechem like many others need the
maximum points to avoid relegation
while BA will be playing to appease their
fans whom they have failed to appease
most times this season – worst club on
the road.
Bechem have a very good record at
home, just one defeat at the hands of
kotoko. They also boast of 11 wins out
of the 14 games, clearly making them
favorites to win this one.
Liberty Professionals v. Sekondi Hasaacas
– Dansoman
Hasaacas have a mountainous task if
they desire a successful result in the nest
of Liberty on Sunday. 1-0, Hasaacas lost
to kotoko on match day 29 and a defeat
may see them off. Liberty following their
three successive victories against All
Stars Inter Allies and BA have shot into
the top four and they might fancy
another victory against Hasaacas who
are bad travelers. The Sekondi based
club have a single win away out of 14
tries.
This is a must win game and perhaps
Hasaacas’ last chance at survival in the
premiership and they must come up
with one of their best performances yet
on the away front against a resilient
Liberty side to crack open the door to
safety.
Hasaacas have 39 points and occupy the
11th position compared to Liberty who
sit comfortably among the elites with 43
points. Four wins each for both clubs in
the last 11 meetings.
Medeama SC v. Inter Allies – Tarkwa
The might of MTN FA Cup winners,
Medeama will be tested by Inter-Allies
when the two sides clash in what is a
must win game for the ‘yellow and
mauves’.
Allies have enjoyed a pleasant campaign
and will be anxious to end it on a
positive note while Medeama are a place
above the bottom three after their 2-0
defeat at Wa, and anything less than a
win will see them kiss goodbye to the
elite division.
Medeama defied the odds without star
striker Nathanial Asamoah to beat
kotoko to the FA cup and on Sunday will
be required replicate the same success
without him.
The nature of the pairings and
‘relegation mathematics’ though
somewhat murky indicates that Berekum
Chelsea and Wa All Stars are safe with
wonder club Gt. Olympics in need of
some huge help from the soccer gods of
the land to endure.

Mubanga Aaron

Freelance Football Writer |Freelance sports presenter TV & Radio|Sports Analyst|Social media manager|mubajnrabntv@gmail.com