PUNDITS CORNER- DEREK’S PREDICTIONS Week 14, First Capital Plus Premier League

 Written by Derek Dapaah

 Derek Dapaah gives his predictions ahead of the penultimate week in the first capital plus premier league
The premier league is back after an Inter-club competition action where Accra Hearts of Oak made Ghana proud, this week's prediction will take into account that there are 5 regional derbies.

                                               Hasaacas vrs Medeama SC
Medeama SC played extremely well against Aduana Stars before the continental assignment. Now, it is the Western derby. Supporters to cheer their various clubs to victory. They face a much sterner challenge against a Hasaacas side wanting to maintain their home triumph run (5wins, 1draw). They will be determining to extend the home record before they travel to Bechem for their last game in the first round. Medeama have been bad away this season and it is not the best run for them (3defeats, 2draws), not even a win so I see this form continuing at Sekondi in the derby. Hasaacas to defeat them easily without struggling.

Dapaah predicts: Hasaacas 2 - 0 Medeama SC
Form guide: Hasaacas     -  LDLWL- 12th
                    Medeama SC   -  DDWLW- 5th

                                           Heart of Lions vrs Liberty Professionals
Kpando Park is not an easy place to go, especially when you are in the race for top 4 challenge and you have to have a go at them. But if Liberty plays to the level I know, they can win, as I expect them to, then it makes Sunday’s league very entertaining. This is an obligation victory game for Lions if they want to hunt for a top 4 spot and looking for a trophy. For that reason I cannot back against Liberty, they need to stand up when playing away.
 Dapaah predicts: Heart of Lions 2 - 0 Liberty Professionals

Form guide: Heart of Lions                 - DDLWL- 7th
                           Liberty Professionals - DWLLW- 8th

                                             Aduana Stars vrs Bechem United
Aduana Stars surrendered themselves at Tarkwa against Medeama SC. It was sad to see a club who are chasing Ashgold to fall short easily by giving their opponent cheap victory. Six (6) points away from the top spot, there is no need for them to drop important points or vital points at home and away as well. As I said last weekend, if you want to win the league or catch up with the leaders, you must win or draw the big games always or count yourself out. Aduana good at home this season and one of the clubs who are unbeaten at home so a tough task for Bechem in the Bono derby, who are not having a good run away. (3 away defeats in their last three away games. Aduana to massacre them at Dormaa.

Dapaah predicts: Aduana Stars 1- 0 Bechem United
Form guide: Aduana Stars          - LWLWL-2nd
                        Bechem United       -  WLLLW - 14th

                                               BA United vrs Berekum Chelsea
They now lie at the 6th position on the league, from the bottom after winning their appeal against the Disciplinary Committee so psychologically they are back and will be in contention for a top 4 finish or winning the league. This game is very difficult to predict knowing the strides at stake,Berekum Chelsea are on form, but their bad away performance in the league leaves much to be desired, they have not won any away league match running into three seasons, can they take advantage of a weak BA United side? May be it will be a time for thm to pick a point from away in many years, B A United are well aware of this difficulties in the Berekum Chelsea team and will do all they can to pick the points availble

 Dapaah predicts: BA United 1 - 0 Berekum Chelsea
Form guide: BA United                  - LLLWL- 16th
                        Berekum Chelsea   - DLWLW-6th

                                                       Inter Allies vrs WAFA
The battle of a top 4 finish with Allies 4th and WAFA 3rd. Allies are very strong at home with but WAFA will be pushing hard for a tough game. Inter Allies are also one of the unbeaten teams at home but I see this fixture as one of their toughest in the campaign. Both teams play the same style of football. I watched Allies last weekend against Ashgold and they were shambolic so I think it won’t be an easy game for them.

Dapaah predicts: Inter Allies 0 -0 WAFA
Form guide: Inter- Allies    - WWLWL- 4th
                                WAFA     - WDWLW- 3rd

                                          Wa All Stars vrs Ashanti Gold
Ashgold must not drop points against the lower rank teams, otherwise it will let them slip, the gap will be closed and also they might be stripped from there. Two defeats on a row for Wa All Stars, I think they will love to bounce back at home against Ashgold so a real tough task. Ashgold must stand to the occasion if they want to stay at the top till the final fixtures of the league. Wa All Stars will give everything out for this game to achieve what they want, victory.

Dapaah predicts: Wa All Stars 1 -1 Ashanti Gold
Form guide: Wa All Stars - WWWLL- 11th
                    Ashanti Gold     - DLWLW - 1st

                                                           Olympics vrs Accra Hearts of Oak
Game of the week. It is known as the Greater Accra derby (the match for the GA’s). Olympics is determined to maintain their unbeaten run to four (4) games in this year’s campaign for the first time, but Hearts to stun them at Accra Sports Stadium. Hearts of Oak will try and implement the impressive run in the continental matches into the league this time. It will be a tight game and I can see an interesting game come Sunday. But if Hearts play to the level we know, they can beat absolutely anybody. If Hearts win, as I expect them to, then it will make the league very interesting. Fiamenyo scoring boots are back and that’s a huge boost for the Phobians but it’s tough to side with either team. Richard “Olele” hasn’t conceded in the last three (3), three clean-sheets and he is looking to make it four (4) on a row but I don’t see that happening in this Greater Accra derby. This is a must-win game for the visitors, if they want to climb to the top.

Dapaah predicts: Olympics 1:2 Accra Hearts of Oak
Form guide:  Olympics        - LLWWD- 13th
                       Hearts of Oak  - WDWLW- 9th

                                              New Edubiase vrs Kumasi Asante Kotoko
It is known as the Ashanti regional derby, one of the derbies. Despite trashing Wassaman in the Elite Cup competition, Kotoko is yet to find its first win in the league after being eliminated in the caf Inter- Club competition by Eulma. This is a really tight game. It’s a massive derby which is a cup final to both sets of supports and I think both sides will be petrified to lose. However, if the results go the way I think they will then Kotoko have a chance to close up a bit of a gap on the top 4 places. I just see that happening. Duncan must improve on the remaining fixtures to get the fans back to the stadium.

Dapaah predicts: New Edubiase 2 - 2 Kumasi Asante Kotoko
Form guide: Edubiase FC     - LWLWL- 15th
                     Asante Kotoko    - DDWWD- 10th

FCPPL Week 14 Preview: Hearts, Olympics to renew rivalry

By: Yussif Alhassan Uthman

The First capital plus premier league returns this weekend with some exciting match-ups including five regional derbies across the respective match centres in Ghana.

The penultimate round of matches in the first round of the FCPPL will kick start on Saturday with Tema base Inter Allies playing as host to new boys WAFA at the Tema sports stadium. Both sides have enjoyed a start to the season with WAFA sitting third on the log on 21 points, just a point ahead of their host who are currently forth on the log. Inter Allies will without a doubt go into the fixture full of confidence as they are yet to lose a league fixture at home where as WAFA will be looking to become the first side to beat the “eleven is to one” at home in the ongoing campaign. A win for either side will take them second in the league standing with second place Aduana Stars not in action until Sunday.

The first game on Sunday will be the Ashanti-Adansi derby between New Edubiase FC and Asante Kotoko at the lenclay stadium in Obuase. The porcupine warriors will go into the fixture on the back of an impressive 5-0 victory against Wassaman United in the Elite cup competition and will look to consolidate their position in the middle of the log before the break. Edubiase on the other hand are looking to move out of the relegation zone and will surely fancy their chances against Kotoko having proved their capabilities against their regional rivals in recent time.

In Kpando, Heart of Lions will lock horns with Liberty professionals with the home side looking to bounce back from a disappointing match week-13 defeat away at Bechem United. Lions, currently seventh on the log will move into the top four with a victory on Sunday but may well know that victory is far from guaranteed as they may not know the sort of defense the Liberty team  will put up on the day. Coach George Lamptey will either go with his usual youthful backline or opt for the more experience Maxwell Mensah, Karim Alhassan, and James Desarama and captain Alfred Nelson. Lions will have to prepare for any eventuality in order for their impressive home form to continue.

Second place Aduana Stars will play Bechem United in the first of two Brong Ahafo derbies on Sunday at the Dorma Park. The 2009-10 champions will hope to continue their impressive home form in their quest to keep pace with league leaders Ashgold. Their opponent, Bechem United might be in the relegation zone but a point in this fixture will be a big step towards safety as it will propel them out of the drop zone if other results go their way. The Bechem side will have to count on their star performer Noah Martey if they are to get anything in the game.

The second of the Brong Ahafo derby will see Struggling BA United come up against Brekum Chelsea at the Sunyani coronation park on Sunday. The Blues will be relieved to have won their appeal against the Disciplinary ruling that ordered for their forfeiture of games played after February 2- a decision that have seen them accrued 13 more points to their points tally and catapulted them to fifth on the log ahead of their short trip to rival BA United. Chelsea go into the as the bookmakers favourites but if they under estimate their rivals, it will be at their own peril especially after BA united shocked leaders Ashgold the last time they played at the coronation park

The Esipong sports stadium in Sekondi will be the venue of attraction for the Western Regional derby between Hasaacas and Medeama SC. The mauve and yellow will look to prove their critics wrong by beating their Western Regional rivals which will be a giant step in their Top four hopes. Both Hasaacas and Medeama are thriving on their home form but a derby has no respect for who plays home or away in football. A win for either of them will be a good result but a draw will be great for Medeama and detrimental to the hopes of Hasaacas finishing in the top four.

Wa all stars will host league leaders Ashgold at the Wa park. The miners will look to continue with their fine form in the league against the struggling wa all stars who haven’t had a good start to the season as per their reputation. Bashir Hayford’s men are known for throwing away leads at the top of the log in recent seasons and will no doubt be mindful of the threat posed by the wa side. They will surely hope that what happened last season when they threw away a comfortable lead at the top of the table will not happen again this term.

The biggest fixture of the weekend will take place the Accra sports stadium with Great Olympics taking on Accra Hearts of oak on Sunday. The Phobians will go into the game at the back of recoding a great result in their Confederations cup adventure away at Djoliba in Mali. For the first time since the 2009-10 season, the two sides will battle it out for the bragging right in the capital. Hearts will look to build on their recent performance in the confederations cup but Olympics will also give themselves a chance as they are the form side of the two in the league having won 2 and drawn 1 in their last three league outing keeping three straight clean sheets in the process

PREVIEW OF GN BANK NATIONAL DIVISION ONE LEAGUE WEEK 10

Nania fc, having  played four  home matches without a victory, face a daunting task when they come face to face with second-placed king Solomon in the week 10 of the GN Bank National Division one League. All other matches in the 3 zones will continue at the various league centres.

In Zone One, at the Sunyani Coronation Park on Saturday, regional derby takes centre stage, with the pairing of two former premier league campaigners, Tano Bofoakwa and Berekum Arsenal. A win at home for Bofoakwa will aid them to terminate Arsenal’s five matches unbeaten run abruptly.

Fourth from bottom on the league log, Tamale All Stars will intend to escape from the drop zone against Unity FC at the Tamale Annex. At the Bolga Park, Berlin FC’s effort to pile pressure on league leaders will face a strong challenge in a trip to Bolga All Stars, while Real Tamale United will be in action with Techiman City at the Tamale Sports Stadium.

Wa African United, after slumping to their first defeat of the season will come as a wounded lion hosting last club, Galaxy FC.

At Damongo, Amanjande FC will entertain Guan United at the Bole Park.

Mpuasomah FC will host Esperance at Japekrom and Bolga Man City will visit Utrecht at the Tamale Annex.

In Zone Two, at the Essipong Stadium on Saturday, karela will aim at protecting the three points when they clash with Deportivo, whereas at the Baba Yara Stadium, the battle for bragging authority in Kumasi will feature fourth  from bottom Cornerstone, and strugglers, KFC Samosa.

At Dunkwa Park, Windy Professionals' wish to record their first  victory may end in futility when they visit Starke FC, while the Donpim park will see the clash of two former premier league participants, Wassaman United and Ebusua Dwarfs combat for the slot for premier league participation. A triumph for Wassaman Will cushion them upwards.

 Eleven Wise could pull a shock when they travell to face Elmina Sharks at Dr. Ndoum Stadium while Tarkwa United encounter Dunkwa United at the Tarkwa Park. Gold star’s position on top of the league log could be short-lived when they come up against Samartex at Samreboi.

Proud United will host King Faisal at Kasoa.

Elsewhere in Zone Three, at Tema Stadium on Friday, temperatures will soar when Pure Joy go head to head with Mighty Jets as both clubs are pegged at 16 points.

On Saturday at the Tema Stadium, Danbort FC travel to Real Athletico with a point separating the two sides while Hot Steel could record first away success against Prestige FC at Nicholson Park.

 At Kweiman, league leaders, Dreams FC may keep all points when they  meet Istanbul, who are 9 points behind the leaders, whereas the Tema derby takes place between Tema Youth and D’international at Tema Stadium.

At the Legon Park, King Solomon may maintain the chase for top spot by playing as guest to second from bottom, Nania FC who are yet to win a match at home.

Relegation threatened Kotoku Royals will battle Sporting Mirren and Okwahu United will hope to move ahead of their opponent, Amidaus Professionals at Oda and Nkwakaw respectively.

 

FIXTURES AT A GLANCE

ZONE ONE

SAT – SUNYANI – TANO BOFOAKWA VS BEREKUM ARSENAL

SAT – TAMALE ANNEX – TAMALE ALL STARS VS UNITY FC

SUN – BOLE PARK – AMANJANDE FC VS GUAN UNITED

SUN – TAMALE ANNEX – UTRECHT VS BOLGA MAN CITY

SUN – DAMANGO – WA AFRICAN UTD VS GALAXY FC

SUN – TAMALE STADIUM – RTU VS TECHIMAN CITY

SUN – JAPEKROM – JAPEKROM FC VS ESPERANCE

SUN – BOLGA – BOLGA ALL STARS VS BERLIN FC

ZONE TWO

SAT – ESSIPONG – KARELA VS DEPORTIVO

SUN – DUNKWA – STARKE FC VS WINDY PROFESSIONAL

SUN – BABA YARA – CORNERSTONE VS KFC SAMOSA

SUN – DONPIM – WASSAMAN UTD VS DWARFS

SUN – ELMINA – ELMINA SHARKS VS ELEVEN WISE

SUN – TARKWA – TARKWA UTD VS DUNKWA UTD

SUN – KASOA – PROUD UTD VS KING FAISAL

SUN – SAMREBOI – SAMARTEX VS GOLD STARS

 

 ZONE THREE

FRI – TEMA STADIUM – PURE JOY VS MIGHTY JETS

SAT – TEMA STADIUM – REAL ATHLETICO VS DANBORT FC

SUN – NKAWKAW – OKWAHU UTD VS AMIDAUS PROFESSIONALS

SUN – ODA – KOTOKU ROYALS VS SPORTING MIRREN

SUN – LEGON – NANIA FC VS KING SOLOMON

SUN – TEMA STADIUM – TEMA YOUTH VS D’INTERNATIONAL

SUN – KWEIMAN – DREAMS FC VS ISTANBUL

SUN – NICHOLSON PARK – PRESTIGE FC VS HOT STEEL

PREVIEW OF NATIONAL WOMEN'S LEAGUE WEEK 2

Six Women football league centres will compete with actionn from the first capital plus premier league when the National Women's League enters week two.
Defending Champions, Hasaacas Ladies will be in full force when they return to their favorite Gyandu Park on Saturday with a game against Immigration ladies who failed to pick the 3 maximum points availble at home when they hosted Police ladies in week 1. Hasaacas on the other hand will seek to ensure they assume the summit of the league log.

In other matches in the southern zone, Police Ladies will host Blessed Ladies at the National Police Training park on Saturday.
Police Ladies will seek to use the match as a means to pick their first point in the league after they lost by 2 - 0 to soccer intellectuals in the opening week.
The last game of the zone will see leaders Soccer Interlectuals hosting Lady Strikers in a game that promises to be of more fire works.

In the Northern Zone, Losing finalist in the 2014 league, Fabulous Ladies will seek to re - establish their force in the league when they play Dreamz Ladies at the Wesley Park in Kumasi, Dreams Ladies will also seek to redeem their image in this game as they lost heavily in week 1 by 4 - 1 against Prisons Ladies.
In other matches, the Ohene Ameyaw Park will host the game between Ampem Darkoa Ladies and Lepo Ladies, while the last match in the group is the battle between Ashtown ladies and Prisons Ladies at the Prempeh College park.

GN BANK NATIONAL DIVISION ONE LEAGUE WEEK 9 REVIEW

Wa African united’s effort of going unbeaten in ghe league ended in humiliation as they were taken to the grounds and thrashed heavily (4 -1) by techiman city during week 9 of the GN bank division one league played across all venues.

In Zone One, Wa African United’s run of nine matches unbeaten was brought to an abrupt halt in a humiliating 4 – 1 defeat to Techiman City and this sends Techiman City third on the table.

Tamale All Stars failed to stage a fierce challenge to Berekum Arsenals’ marvelous form and were walloped 4 – 1. A lone goal was enough to seal a home victory for Berlin FC over RTU. Unity FC ran over Bolga All Stars 2 – 0.

 Tamale Utrecht emerged victors with a hard-fought 3-2 win over strugglers, Galaxy FC, while Bolga Man City played out an entertaining 1 – 1 draw with Amanjande.

Guan United dispatched Japekrom FC 3 – 1 and Bofoakwa United’s promotion aspiration was dealt a further blow, slumping 1 – 0 to Esperance.

In Zone Two, league leaders, Dwarfs left behind last week’s defeat and  were 4 – 0 convincing winners over  cornerstones at the Robert Mesah Stadium in Cape Coast.

 Gold Stars ensured they were on course by pipping Wassaman 1 – 0,  and King Faisal snatched a home victory romping over in-form Samartex to  3 – 1. Windy Professionals and KFC Samosa failed to allay their fears of relegation by playing 1 – 1 drawn game at the Winneba Sports College field, with Karela and Starke FC also  haring the spoils by the same scoreline.

Eleven Wise toiled for a 2 -1 home success over Tarkwa United and Proud United’s faint hopes of escaping from the bottom did not see the light of day when they lost by 2 - 1 to Dunkwa United at the Dunkwa park.

Asokwa Deportivo will lock horns with Elmina Sharks on Monday at the Baba Yara Stadium, as a win for Asokwa Deportivo puts them at an advantage position.

Elsewhere In Zone Three, Dreams FC stretched their lead at the summit of the table, producing a goal to escape with all points at D’international. Real Athletico’s woes continued with a 4 – 2 away defeat to Sporting Mirren with Amidaus Professionals handing second defeat on a trot to Nania FC edging them 2 – 1.

Danbort FC recorded a comprehensive 3 – 1 triumph at the expense of Okwahu United where as King Solomon kept their vision alive winning 1 – 0 over Tema Youth.

Kotokou Royals’ chances of staying in the league keeps dwindling when they lost 2 – 1 at Tudu Mighty Jets. Istanbul drew 1 – 1 at home with prestige FC.

A 21st minute penalty, boldly converted by Constant Dansu grabbed victory for Hot Steel when they hosted Pure Joy at the Ho Sports Stadium.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

ZONE ONE

GALAXY 2 – 3 UTRECHT

TECHIMAN CITY 4 – 1 WA AFRICAN UTD

BERLIN FC 1 – 0 RTU

UNITY FC 2 – O BOLGA ALL STARS

ARSENALS 4 – 1   TAMALE ALL STARS

ESPERANCE 1 – 0 BOFOAKWA

BOLGA MAN CITY 1 – 1 AMANJANDE

GUAN UTD 3 – 1 JAPEKROM FC

ZONE TWO

WINDY PROF 1 – 1 KARELA

KFC SSAMOSA 1 – 1 STARKE FC

DWARFS 4 – 0 CORNERSTONE

ELEVEN WISE 2 – 1 TARKWA UTD

DUNKWA UTD 2 – 1 PROUD UTD

KING FAISAL 3 – 1 SAMARTEX

GOLD STARS 1 – 0 WASSAMAN UTD

DEPORTIVO 1 - 1 ELMINA SHARKS

ZONE THREE

AMIDAUS PROF 2 – 1 NANIA FC

DANBORT FC 3 – 1 OKWAHU UTD

SPORTING MIRREN 4 – 2 REAL ATHLETICO

MIGHTY JETS 2 – 1 KOTOKU ROYALS

KING SOLOMON 1 – 0 TEMA YOUTH

D’INTERNATIONAL 0 – 1 DREAMS FC

ISTANBUL 1 – 1 PRESTIGE

HOT STEEL 1 – 0 PURE JOY