What are the key talking points from week 6 of the Ghana Premier League?

TICK TOCK…TICK TOCK…..AND DUNCAN RUNS OUT OF TIME

This was bound to happen considering the sequence of results of the Porcupines. The club were of the view they had had one of the best recruitment in recent years and were expecting instant results considering their preseason form. By now fault of his, Duncan’s players picked up injuries and were also discontented over payment of bonuses but he still has to pay the price. Heads had to roll and unfortunately David Duncan was the sacrificial lamb. His tactics had largely been criticized by a section of the fans while his tough talking self did not make him a fans’ favorite either. A second coach has been sacked in two seasons prior to the midway stage leaves more questions than answers. Judging by previous coaches who have been asked to step aside by Kotoko, then we can confidently say we have seen the last of David Duncan in the Kotoko team.

BUT THIS COULD BE MICHAEL OSEI’S TIME

It is often said that “ one man’s meat is another man’s poison”, and this could well be the case of Michael Osei. The stepping aside of Duncan could well pave the way for Osei who has had short stints in charge of the club. In all his stints, the former Kotoko striker has performed admirably winning two titles for the club in the absence of head coaches. Around this stage last season, he was once again given the team where he led them to three successive draws after the team had suffered back to back defeats against Hearts and Ashantigold. Osei has surely worked himself to the head coach role and this could be the time he possibly takes full charge of the team. He has worked under two astute tacticians; Didi Dramani and David Duncan and their inputs coupled with his own football knowledge will prove invaluable as he take the reins of Kotoko.

WA ALL STARS ARE NO FLUKE

The Wa side produced a complete performance to topple Hearts of Oak at the summit of the league. The match had been marred by arguably some poor refeering decisions according to the Hearts fans, but this will not take away an efficient performance from Amos Adepa’s side. All Stars’ played Hearts off the pitch and rendered their two most effective players redundant on the pitch. Emmanuel Sarbah Laryea and Mustapha Essuman were at sixes and sevens against Wa All Stars well-oiled machinery. Tormentor in chief, Emmanuel Ocran played his part by running  Hearts ragged with his pace but the truth is, the team were fully aware of their responsibilities and their duly executed it. Consistency will be vital should they mount a title charge but on the evidence on this performance, Wa will be a tough ground for every Premier League side.

BUT HEARTS COULD WELL BE PLAYING ON NEUTRAL GROUNDS

Hearts began last season with a home game against WAFA in Kpando and midway through the season played Heart of Lions at Cape Coast all because they were banned from the Accra Sports Stadium due to crowd violence These instances did not seem to deter the Phobian fans who registered their displeasure  by throwing missiles on the pitch. It took strategic committee chairman Vincent Odotei Sowah to calm the fans but it seems his plea worked temporarily as the fans went wild again following the final whistle. It took a massive police escort to see the referees leave the stadium. Surely, unhappiness registered in a wrong way could see Hearts potentially face another ban. Hearts have one home game between now and when they play Kotoko in the Super Clash encounter. Hopefully fans will get to see the game in Accra.

OLD GUARDS AMONGST THE MIX

Eric Bekoe and Saddick Adams had been written off prior to the commencement of the league as they had been termed as ‘finished articles’. Bekoe was consistently plagued by injuries while Saddick Adams had failed to progress abroad so he had to return home. However, this two strikers have shown talents supersedes age or predicaments. The duo are currently joint top on the goal king chart having scored four goals in six games. In their peak form, Bekoe and Adams were no match for defenders and despite not being up to speed in all six games, they have shown they know how to find the back of the net. Another old guard currently bagging goals is Stephen Manu who has scored two goals for Techiman City.  The lanky striker found the going tough at Edubiase after leaving Kotoko but is currently proving doubters wrong.

AHORTOR COULD BE OUR KING OF FREE KICKS

This season’s Premier League has seen beautiful goals and more importantly free kicks. Malik Akowuah, Eric Bekoe and Walidu Mumuni have all scored from set pieces this season but the current free kick king is Gockel Ahortor. The Inter Allies midfielder scored a beauty against Hearts a fortnight ago and followed it up with another stunner against Dwarfs. Ahortor is already known for his strike from range after his fine strike settled the Inter Allies, Hearts of game last season.  With 24 matches more to go, Ahortor will have more chances to prove his worth as a go to man in terms of set pieces.

TECHIMAN ARE GOING ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS QUIETLY

The talk of the season has been about Hearts , Wa All Stars and Kotoko but Techiman City have gone about their business quietly and quite effectively. Three home wins out of three conceding none and a point out of nine away from home is a good start for Techiman considering the issues surrounding their participation in the league. Micky Charles’ side are just four points adrift of the leaders All Stars and considering how dangerous they are at home, they could well be in and around the mix come the end of the season.

The other talking points include;
•    Liberty’s fine run at home. They have a hundred per cent record
•    Ashantigold are struggling. One win in six matches
•    Aristoba is working magic for Aduana.

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