Ghana Premier League 24 Oct

[kponkpa]

Bwin has started offering the Ghana League as such i present my thoughts for those interested. The games will all start at 1700CET but Bwin will close markets at 1500CET

Aduana Stars v Dwarfs 1500CET

Aduana the defending league champions lie 6th on the league log and only 2 points behind league leaders Kessben and Chelsea. Last season Aduana didn’t concede a single goal at their home pitch and this season they haven’t conceded at home in their 2 home games so far. They are a defensive minded team handled by CHAN coach Herbert Addo who is very particular about his teams defensive abilities and as such known as the single goal project team. They always win games by 1-0 or max 2-0 even on their best of days. Last season Aduana played 15 home games winning 13 and drawing 2 without conceeding a goal at home. 12 out of the 13 games ended 1-0 and one match ended 2-0. All their 2 drawn games at home ended 0-0. This season they have played 3 home games winning 2 and drawing 1. All two winning games ended 1-0 and the draw was against Hearts which ended 0-0. They have a good goalie in Stephen Adams and have no important missing for this game. Dwarfs equally have no important missing, but judging from what i watched from their play against Hearts, they are equally toothless in attack. They will definitely come back to their base from Dormaa empty handed. Aduana should win this encounter to nil. Both teams not to score is only available at 1.42 as such i will take the home win which is available at 1.45

Kessben FC v B A Stars 1500CET

BA Stars have been in the news this week for all the wrong reasons. Firstly, their home game against Edubiase last week ended abruptly when their fans attacked match officials who had disallowed their 2 goals with the away team leading 1-0 at the time of the attack. Though management of the club apologised for the unruly behaviour of their fans, the case has been referred to the disciplinary committee. In the past few weeks it seems all goals BA Stars score especially at their home grounds have been disallowed and their CEO Tachie Arhin a known critic of match officials and the current FA administration tended in his resignation on Wednesday citing conspiracy against his team due to his utterances against powers that be in the football association and referees. This is not the time to face league leaders Kessben at their favourite Essipong Stadium where they have run over all visiting teams and had a good away result last week drawing with AshGold in Obuasi. Kessben have so far won all home games with the only exception being defensive Aduana Stars who managed a 1-1 draw game. Kessben look set to add more to the misery BA Stars.

PICK: Double of Aduana Stars + Kessben FC = 1.96 @ BWIN 4/10


Berekum Arsenal v Mighty Jets

Arsenals are another typical home team and at the Golden city Park in Sunyani they are quite invincible. Visiting clubs have always complained playing there because of the bad nature of their pitch, intimidation from local fans and sometimes officiating. Its even a dreaded ground for the most glamourious teams in Ghana namely Hearts and Kotoko. The only problem is that Arsenals are sometimes wasteful with chnaces but i expect them to win this encounter. League debutants Mighty Jets who are struggling have one of the best tactical brains in EK Afrainie but they dont have enough quality players and will definitely experience a baptism of fire in Berekum. Anything than a home win will surprise me and i like the odds for home win considering its Arsenals.

PICK: Berekum Arsenals @ 1.72 BWIN 3/10

New Edubiase v Berekum Chelsea

New Edubiase appears to have settled well this season after escaping relegation last season. Their CEO and some officials and players of their team had a fair share of assault from the fans of BA Stars last week in their match which ended abruptly. They were leading 1-0 but were fortunate the referee had disallowed 2 goals from BA Stars which was the reason for the attack. Chelsea are joint leaders and enjoying a good season. Last seasons joint top scorer Bismark Idan, Emmanuel Clottey and Obed Owusu are having a wonderful season with Chelsea. This is a game where Chelsea can surprise Edubiase with the sort of quality they possess. Asian would have been appropraite for this game, nonetheless I expect them to come out unscathed in their game away at Nana Gyamfi Park in Bekwai.

PICK: Chelsea to win or draw @ 2.00 BWIN 2/10

[kponkpa]

Hearts of Oak v All Stars


My team Hearts of Oak are encountering goal droughts simply because they didn’t get replacements for their 3 strikers they sold at the end of the season. We are ok defensively and in midfield with an exceptional good goalkeeper in Sammy Adjei who is bidding for a return to the national team. The least said about the attack line, the better as they simply cant hit a cows backside with a banjo. The home ground of Hearts is normally a no go area for visiting teams but this season hasn’t been so because of the poor forward line. Hearts have identified the problem but they can only sign players when the window opens in January. Plans are already in place to sign ex Ghana international Peter Ofori-Quaye, U20 striking star Frank Acheampong and last seasons top marksman Mahatma Otoo who is the captain of the current U20 national team will return from his loan in Tunisia. This will definitely boost the attacking line of Hearts, however, until then i will keep backing unders in all Hearts games or until i see an improvement. All Stars managed a hard fought 1-0 over King Faisal last week and though they are well aware of Hearts misfortunes, they definitely wont take things for granted and play defensively as playing Hearts away is always a herculean task. Hearts play Kotoko next week which is the biggest game in Ghana and will look for a morale boaster in the form of a win to take to the kotoko game. Hearts main striker Ebwin Osei Pele was played 20 minutes for the Ghana U20 team yesterday scoring the 4th goal in Ghana's 4-1 win over Benin. I am sure he will feature today for Heart as we have no notable striker. All Stars keeper Robert Dabo is a master of wasting time and am sure he will do his antics today. Though Hearts can force a win with the help of their vociferous fans it cant be guaranteed. Most likely results will be 1-0, 1-1 or 0-0 as i cant see anything beyond these score lines. Under 2.5 goals is the obvious choice here but low odds of 1.35 so its good for a combo.


King Faisal v Asante Kotoko


Encounters between these city rivals defy form guide and league positions. They both play at the Baba Yara stadium in Kumasi as such it is a home game for both teams but Kotoko will feel more at home as they are the traditional team and the stadium will be full of their fans. Faisal have been the bogey team for Kotoko as last season they managed to get 4 points from their encounters. This season things haven’t gone well for Faisal simply because they haven’t benefitted from the 3 most influential players. Daniel Addo who is their most important defender won his case against the club this week seeking floating status which has been granted by the player status committee. Their playmaker Ebo Andoh and main striker Frank Acheampong are also seeking to leave the club, besides they will miss this match as both are in the camp of the national U20 team who play Benin in African qualifiers on Saturday. Kotoko on paper as i indicated have the best players in the league in their camp and morale has been further boosted this week as a result of them signing a new sponsorship deal with Interplast. Kotoko are becoming unpredictable, in some games they finish off opponents quickly and in some others like what happened last week they squander all chances. I don’t know which Kotoko will turn up on Sunday but judging from the important missings of Faisal I am sure the worst case scenario for Kotoko will be a draw. A risk can be taken on Kotoko to win @ 2.20

[kponkpa]

Bad week but hopefully next week will be better.

Unfortunately coach Herbert Addo wasnt on the bench for Aduana, i wouldnt have selected this game if i knew this. He has started his preparation for the CHAN tournament with the local Black stars before schedule. First time in 2 years that Aduana has conceeded at home. FT 1-1

Kessben FC game and Arsenal games went as planned. Kessben won 3-1, Arsenal won 2-1.

In the Chelsea game, the referee killed the bet within 9 minutes. Bad penalties awarded to home team in 5th and 8th minute resulting in the 2 goals for Edubiase.

The 3-0 Hearts scoreline is flattery as i was at the stadium. Robert Dabo who is the keeper of All Stars and a national team goalkeeper at the u23 level conceeded 2 cheap goals my grandmum would have stopped.

King Faisal and Kotoko as stated always defies form guide. Faisal were simply lucky. Got into a 3-0 lead within 30 mins. They have their goalkeper to thank as he was simply the man of the match. Game ended 3-2 in favour of Faisal.

Hopefully we will have better betting times coming ahead.

[HastGill1]

Good to see you back kponkpa!