Kumasi Asante Kotoko will have a chance for revenge and also to ascend to the top of the Premier League ladder when they host visiting Bechem United at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in their 19th week Ghana Premier League clash on Sunday.
Second-placed Kotoko are just a point off league leaders, Wa All Stars, with a fine opportunity to move to the top for the first time this season, but a recent defeat at the hands of Bechem in Kumasi in the MTN FA Cup is expected to trigger an appetite for revenge for the Porcupine Warriors.
Kotoko beat the Bechem lads in their first round clash at the Nana Gyabour Park and the odds heavily favour the home side as Michael Osei has the full complement of his team with the return of his leading marksman Dauda Mohammed from international assignment.
The Bechem lads are yet to secure victory away from home all season and have struggled to find consistent form lately, which makes Bechem’s task very daunting despite their recent FA Cup quarter-final win in Kumasi via a penalty shootout.
• At the Carl Reindorf Park, Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals and Dreams FC will lock horns in a dicey match between two mid-table sides who have 26 points each and are placed sixth and seventh respectively on the league log.
Interestingly, the first round encounter at the Dawu Park ended in a scoreless draw, but Liberty have not won their last three home games while the league’s newcomers have won just one of their last five away games.
Liberty coach, George Lamptey, will seek to inspire his leading marksman Latif Blessing and striking partner Kennedy Ashia to lead the assault on Charles Akonnor’s Dreams, who are expected to field a strong team, including goalkeeper Philemon McCarthy, forwards Ben Nash Quansah, Aaron Amoah and experienced Eric Gawu.
• Wa All Stars’ lead is under threat from the chasing pack unless they can break the home invincibility of WAFA, who are yet to lose at the Sogakope Park this season, while struggling Sekondi Hasaacas play host to third-placed Accra Hearts of Oak, whose newly signed Portuguese coach, Sergio Traguil, will seek to maintain the team’s impressive away record.
• At Obuasi, defending champions Ashgold welcome 15th-placed Inter Allies, who have not won away this season.
• Bottom club Ebusua Dwarfs play away to Berekum Chelsea at the Golden City Park, another bottom club New Edubiase United face an uphill task against Aduana Stars who are unbeaten in their last five matches at Dormaa-Ahenkro.
• The match between Techiman City and Medeama has been rescheduled due to the latter’s engagement in the CAF Confederation Cup.