Audio By Carbonatix
TEAM NEWS:
Hearts of Oak have a few injury concerns going into this fixture, despite the return of Ashittey Ollenu to the Phobia fold after missing out on the European trip with the Black Satellites and the recovery of Philemon McCarthy and Sammy Adjei both of whom were back to training during the week.
James Bissue is out injured. Obed Ansah has suffered a relapse after his debut at Tarkwa and so has Kofi Abanga and Romeo Agban. But Hearts have an embarrassment of midfield riches with Moro Abubakar,Esme Mends,Winful Cobbina and Emmanuel Laryea offering the phobians a still potent midfield.
MATCH FACTS:
Accra Hearts of Oak, riding on a new wave of enthusiasm, welcome Division 1 side Brong Ahafo Stars to the Accra Sports Stadium in the round 32nd of the 2012/13 MTN FA CUP.
The Phobians, unbeaten in four games having won twice and drawn twice in 2013 calendar year, will be aiming for their third win of the new year.
Brong Ahafo Stars overcame Westlanders FC 2-0 at home in the 1/64thround. B.A Stars complement the 14 Division One Clubs aiming to emulate the success story of Abedi Pele's Nania FC FA Cup triumph in 2011. But the Phobians, who have not succumbed to a lower division side in the FA Cup for close to two decades, will look to their recent successes in the Cup over second tier sides.
Hearts of Oak, record 10-time FA Cup winners, titillated the fans at the Tamale Sports Stadium as they beat Tamale Utrecht FC 3-0 in the Round 1/64th encounter. Debutants James Bissue and Owusu Bempah were on the score sheet, as was the very exciting Winful Cobbinah.
Hearts, whose realistic aim of a trophy lies in the FA Cup, have promised they will not underrate their Division One opponents. Moro "the herbalist" Abubakar,reiterating the pledge, said "Brong Ahafo Stars is a first division team but we are in no way going to underrate them. We will accord them the due respect and seriousness needed to be victorious on Sunday. We are taking every game seriously; every game is like a cup final to us".
Lower league opponents who visited Accra in the FA Cup last season were all taught a footballing lesson. The stubborn Dunkwa United nearly caused an upset when they took the lead but Mahatma Otoo and Uriah Asante quickly restored nomalcy by winning the day for Hearts.
Elmina Sharks were drubbed 4-1 in the round 32nd stage of the competition, and Hearts will be hoping to do similar to Brong Ahafo Stars on Sunday.
The winner of the tie will face either Amidaus Professionals or Prestige Football Club.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
From the turn of the new millennium, Hearts have played Brong Ahafo Stars 3 times. The Phobians have won all the 3 encounters.
Hearts were 1-0 victors over the Stars in the Quarter-finals of the FA Cup in 2000, the last time the Phobians won the competition.
Hearts beat Brong Ahafo Stars home and away in the 2010/11 season in the league, winning 0-1 in Brong Ahafo and 3-0 in Accra via a Douglas Nkrumah double and an Uriah Asante goal.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
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