Kotoko face tough test at Berekum

Berekum Chelsea have gone three years and three months without a home defeat in the Ghana Premier League, which is 38 games in total without a defeat. (W29, D9).

Team news and match facts

Berekum Chelsea

They finished last season third on the league log and were the best home performers for the season, winning 12 and drawing 3 home league games.

Their superb home unbeaten record that date back to December, 2012 when Amidaus Professionals breached their defence line has been intact since then.

And they started the season by piping sensational WAFA by a goal to nil at the Golden City Park to recover from day 1 defeat to debutants Techiman City.

Chelsea have won 2, lost 3 and drawn 2 of their match day 4 league games.

Berekum Chelsea managed to leave the Obuasi Len Clay Sports Stadium with a point, after a hard fought goalless draw against the league champions Ashgold last weekend.

The skipper of the team Sadick Adams is expected to lead the assault on the Kotoko team

Kotoko

The Porcupine Warriors ended last season’s league in a magnificent manner , as they remained unbeaten in their last 6 games to finish 2 on the league log and extended their form into the pre-season by sweeping most of the trophies they contested for.

However, their hopes of getting a good start were shattered by WAFA on match day 1 when they handed them 2-0 defeat at Sogakope, while Medeama held them to a 2 all draw, before they shared the spoils with Ashgold on Wednesday to go three matches without a win.

Last season in a similar fashion, they started the season on a poor note, earning their first victory against B.A United in Sunyani on match day 3.

Kotoko have played 21 league games on match day 4 and have won 13, drawn 6 and lost 2. They remain unbeaten, since they lost to Hearts of Oak in 2001 and have since gone 13 matches without a defeat, having won 11 and drawn 2.

Coach David Duncan’s side biggest worry for the season has been injuries. The likes of Jackson Owusu, Felix Annan, Frank Sarfo Gyamfi are serving various degree of injuries, while players like Dauda Mohammed, Edwin Tuffour Frimpong and Kwame Boateng have been inconsistent due to injuries.

Head to head

These sides have played 14 league games against each other. Kotoko have won 6, lost 4 and drawn 4 against the Berekum lads.

Kotoko have won 2, lost 2 and drawn 3 in their 7 visits to Berekum Chelsea. The last time Kotoko won away against Berekum Chelsea was January, 2010.

Last season Berekum Chelsea handed Kotoko a 3-0 defeat at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi, becoming the last non-Kumasi club to win by that margin in Kumasi, since Akotex in 1971, so could this be a payback time for Kotoko? This was also the last time Kotoko lost a home league game.

They have played three times in the month of March. Kotoko have won 1 and the other 2 ended in draws. Coincidentally the two games played in March at Berekum ended without a winner.

Last season the Porcupine Warriors run away with a point from the Golden City Park when they held the hosts to a 1-1 draw.