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Five things we learned from match-day 24
Pulse Sports brings you a load down of five of the major talking points from week 24 of the GPL.
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After 24 rounds of matches, Aduana Stars top the league log with 44 points – one ahead of closest rivals WAFA, who have two games in hand – with Hearts of Oak also chasing the pack.
The battle for survival is also on, with Liberty Professionals, Ashanti Gold and Great Olympics all fighting to maintain their status in the topflight.
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Pulse Sports brings you five of the major talking points from week 24 of the Ghana Premier League.
Elmina Sharks continue renaissance
The side from the Central Region has managed to turn their season around with four wins on the trot. Elmina Sharks began match-day 20 deeply rooted in the relegation zone, however, they now sit comfortably in seventh position after consecutive wins over Bolga All Stars, Liberty Professionals, Ashanti Gold and Bechem United.
The Sharks seem to have been on a resurgence since replacing Cobbina Amissah with Yaw Achempong as head coach, and they now have the chance to even challenge for a top four spot. The win over Bolga All Stars may not have convinced, however, away wins over fellow relegation battlers Liberty and Ashanti Gold show the Sharks really mean business.
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Now they sit just two points below fourth-placed Medeama SC, and on the back of such a renaissance Elmina Sharks could prove to be the surprise package this season.
Liberty revive survival hopes with Ashanti Gold win
Liberty Professionals have flirted with relegation for the past three seasons running, and the club looks very much certain to toll the same line this campaign. After a run of poor form which saw the Dansoman-based side win just four times in 18 games, the club really needed a result of sort against Ashanti Gold at home.
A late solitary goal from Ernest Papa Arko breathed a huge sigh of relief into the fans, as the Scientific Soccer Lads usurped their opponents, and moved a place clear off the relegation zone.
It has so far been a topsy-turvy campaign for coach Michael Osei and his Liberty Professionals side, but their latest win should come as a major boost as they try to once again chase survival.
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Aduana Stars leave title in WAFA’s hands despite reclaiming top-spot
Billed as the biggest match of the weekend, Aduana Stars had the chance to move three points clear of rivals WAFA in the title race. However, after a dull draw with Medeama SC at the Nana Agyemang Badu II Park, the ‘Ogya’ lads must be kicking themselves for failing to take their chances.
A 0-0 draw with the Mauves and Yellows mean that Aduana now top the league table by just a single point. And with WAFA having two games in hand, the title is now definitely the Academy Boys’ to lose.
Aduana Stars had been the favourites to clinch the title at the beginning of the season, but their campaign has been hit by inconsistency, allowing them to be overtaken by WAFA. There is still a chance to win the league, especially with some tough fixtures to come they way of WAFA. But hat does not change the fact that the title is now firmly within the grips of the league-leaders, thanks to Aduana’s latest draw.
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Hearts of Oak bailed once again by captain Thomas Abbey
Perhaps one of the most underrated players in the league this season, Thomas Abbey has risen to become a key member of the Hearts of Oak set-up. The versatile attacker has contributed with goals and assists from the wings all season, and was once again the architect of the Phobian’s 3-1 win over Tema Youth.
Abbey scored twice, with Kwame Kizito adding a third to make sure Joseph Paintsil’s goal was a mere consolation. The captain also dominated the midfield and, together with Winful Cobinnah, coordinated play for Frank Nuttal’s side, as they recorded a second straight win.
Hearts of Oak may curently look out of the title race, with six matches to go. However, it is not all over and they can still catch up – although results from elsewhere will have a say in that. But with such performances coming from their captain, they would definitely finish the season strongly.
Relegated Bolga All Stars look disinterested in remaining fixtures
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You would have to count a number of years back before you would probably find a side in the Ghanaian topflight as poor as this Bolga All Stars team. The side from the Upper East Region have won just twice all season, and has already been relegated with six games more to play. But more worrying is the fact that they look totally misplaced in the league.
Bolga All Stars have lost each of their last five games, and have become the whipping boys for any team that faces them. And with their relegation status already confirmed, it is increasingly looking like the side only turn out to kick the ball without any form of commitment.
A week ago the team reportedly presented just 14 players for their game against Bechem United, to the surprise of many. But on the back of their disappointing display against Berekum Chelsea last Sunday, Bolga All Stars appear lost in the Ghanaian topflight.
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