The past week were lit up with a variety of situations that presented us with some Ghana Premier League talking points. We owe thanks to the new Karela boys and the Aduana Stars for putting on a great exhibition.
It was both good and a bad weekend that left fans with a thrill and a feeling of satisfaction at the skill displayed by the players.
Not all teams excelled so brilliantly, which gives us a few more things to ponder. It was a virtual blitz of goal scoring activity by the leading teams and it was enough to set some spectators firmly at the edges of their seats.
Those with wagers riding on the victorious Aduana Stars with Betway Kenya were particularly pleased.
Big Moment in the Ghana Premier League weekend
C.K. Akunnor, AshantiGold coach heartily celebrated the third goal for his side. The win over Hearts of Oak was a victory for the Obuasi side that now boasts a one hundred percent record. New management has obviously been good for AshantiGold as the season is off to a bright start for them.
A revitalized Aduana
The Inter Allies took a pounding from the Dormaa club on Sunday with a total dominance that left them with a zero score to the victorious team's 6. This tied for the largest victory margin in the Ghana Premier League that is even with the 2004 victory of Asante Kotoko over Tano Bofoakwa. Yahaya Mohammed led the team in kicking off a barrage of goal scoring options. He was well assisted by teammates Emmanuel Akuoku, Nathaniel Asamoah and Bright Agyei. This was to date, their finest hour and they've set the bar high and firmly established themselves as the team to beat.
Problems for Kotoko
There was a glaring deficiency in Asante Kotoko's goal scoring. It was an upward battle to make the one point that would lead them to a lackluster victory over Eleven Wonders. The offside call stirred up a controversy about the win. It's been a rough four years for Kotoko amidst bad press and a lack of consistent scores. It appears they're starting the season with the same pattern with scoring a goal here and there, and struggling through the rest.
Liberty having its own isssues
Liberty Professionals remained anchored at the low end of the standings. It's somewhat understandable as the young team has a rookie coach. This is also the case for many of the players who are just finding their footing and have a lot to learn. They're all trying to adapt and get on track. They blow opportunities because of inexperience, but let's hold on because this could turn around in time. they came close to their first win on Sunday, but Bright Andoh couldn't make it from the penalty spot with a tied score of 1-1. Hopefully, the team learned something from the experience. They're sitting on a 3-1 defeat ratio so far this season, still reeling from the loss of Samuel Sarfo. We'll keep our fingers crossed for coach Reginald Boateng and hope he finds firm footing quickly.
Accra Hearts of Oak are on their way
The team didn't have a great start, but they're starting to find their way this season. Sunday was a particularly good day as the team achieved their second season win. Patrick Razak went two for two against Dreams FC for the win. This was a noticeable relief to coach Henry Wellington. They could be in for a good season. On the other hand, four goal leaks has led to unfavorable speculation about the effectiveness of the coach. The team has recently chosen Cape Coast to be their home venue.
Final thoughts
The Ghana Football Association is working hard to establish the credibility of the Ghana Premier League. Weekly attempts to increase the profile are made. There have been issues along the way, such as last Saturday's 45 minute hold-up for televising the game. When the feed resumed, it wasn't great to see all the empty spectator seats in the stadium either. Teams that -fail to deliver may be a part of the reason for the lack of attendance at Ghana Premier League games. The lowest turnouts are happening with Kotoko-Eleven Wonders games as well as Hearts-Dreams FC games. It's something that the GFA is looking into.