Bitter rivals Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak are headed for another controversial engagement as they direct their rivalry unto the transfer market for the signature of Kofi Abanga, a player from Division One side Aduana Stars. Just days after reports claimed the Porcupine Warriors had beaten off competition to the player’s signing, the Phobians have also entered the fray for the off season’s most popular target. Accra Hearts of Oak who initially held a 10,000 GH cedis (100 million cedis) offer for the player have upped the ante after their rivals last week paid 15,000 GH cedis (150 million cedis) for to entice Abanga into their fold. For the Phobians, they remain confident of landing the player who had a short training stint with them pending conclusions of a regular contract. They have been negotiating with the player’s club owner of, Nana Agyemang Badu II while claiming the Porcupine Warriors had been dealing with the club’s CEO, Kingsley Osei Bonsu. Though others have claimed the player who is yet to make his premiership debut is over-hyped, Albert Commey, deputy public relations officer of Accra Hearts of Oak thinks otherwise and says the Phobians have matched the amount paid by their rivals for Kofi Abanga. “We have effected payment for the boy to the owner of the club and are expecting his release and all appropriate documentation soon. “He is a fantastic player, a good passer of the ball. If you have a technical eye, you would realise his potential,” said the Hearts public relations officer. Apart from Kotoko and Hearts of Oak, media speculation pointed to widespread interest from other premiership sides; Liberty Professionals, AshantiGold and Tema Youth. Unconfirmed reports say the player may have signed a 3-year deal with the Porcupine Warriors. Meanwhile Hearts of Oak have also claimed they possess the player’s Card A and could go ahead to register him for the coming season, should negotiations with the club owner be consummated. But until then, the football market is set to witness yet another controversial tug-of-war for a player between the country’s two most glamorous sides whose rivalry has always provided the needed adrenaline to spice the season.