In recent years, it’s become almost cliché to name Aduana Stars as a title contender before the start of a new season, and with good reason. They’ve been formidable in the last decade, winning the league twice between 2009 and 2019, while finishing strongly among the top four several times. Before this season, the Joy Sports team went to visit the team in Dormaa. There was certainly a quiet optimism for the current title-holders. In fact, those who believed that a third Premier League crown was coming home were in the majority. They started this campaign at home, beating Inter Allies. And then they won again this past week against Olympics, needing a last gasp goal to make it two in two. All this comes on the back of an unconvincing run in the NC Special Competition, when they could not finish as one of the semifinalists. That unfamiliar position woke the two-time champions to the reality that something had to give. And they responded by making some significant additions to their squad. Of interest was the fact that the club philosophy has shifted. “Aduana, as you know, used to get all the big names around and built the teams around them,” team coach W.O Tandoh told Joy Sports. “But now, we have made it a point to go for youthful materials and blend them with some experienced hands.”  Indeed, we’ve witnessed that in their first two games. Nathan Kwesi Richard, who secured three points in Accra on Sunday, is one of those. Also worthy of note is highly rated right-back Isaac Kwain. Former Dwarfs striker Nicholas Gyan is also there, as are youngsters like Alfred Opoku, Benjamin Owusu and Ghanaian-Ivorian forward Flavio Kouassi Kongoza. “We are aiming for a top two finish, and nothing else. To do that we need seasoned campaigners as well,” ‘keeper Joseph Addo tells Joy Sports. The Ogya boys do have league veterans, too: Yahaya Mohammed, Paul Aidoo, Emmanuel Akuoko, Elvis Opoku, Caleb Amankwah, Hafiz Adams, amongst others. Question, though, is, have they shown enough in 180 minutes of football to convince watchers of their title credentials? Joy Sports Owuraku Ampofo watched Aduana against Olympics and provided this analysis with Gary Al-Smith on the Monday sports analysis program, the Joy Sports Track. WATCH VIDEO: