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Berekum Chelsea, Hearts of Oak set for a crucial clash today

Wednesday’s Ghana Premier League offering sees Berekum Chelsea host giants Hearts of Oak in a match of epic proportions to wrap up matchday-29 of the Ghana Premier League.

While Samuel Boadu witnessed his crop fight back brilliantly against Legon Cities despite losing, the Phobians were made to pay for a shoddy first half in an excruciating 1-0 derby defeat to Accra Lions on Wednesday.

The writing appeared to be on the wall for Hearts of Oak when the half-time whistle blew at the Accra Sports Stadium, as Ibrahim Issah’s exquisite second-half strike propelled Lions to victory, thanks in no small part to familiar Hearts’ wastefulness in the final third.

Hearts of Oak coach Abubakar Ouattara will feel gutted and pressured as his side’s winless run stretches to two matches having lost 2-0 at Legon Cities last week.

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While profligacy has reared its ugly head more often than not for Hearts this season, prolific performances have not been easy to come by in the capital after recording just one and suffered four defeats in their last five matches.

Berekum Chelsea’s penchant for goal-laden games at home and Hearts of Oak’s engrossing defeat against Accra Lions certainly gives rise to an all-action affair on Wednesday at the Golden City park.

Also licking the wounds from their nerve-racking and bewitching 3-2 defeat at Legon Cities last weekend, Chelsea will be aiming to return to winning ways when they entertain the capital giants.

Samuel Boadu’s men recorded a 2-0 win over Medeama in their last home match and will hope to consolidate their position on the league table.

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Chelsea have accumulated 41 points from 28 matches and sit 6th on the table, having won 2, drawn 1 and lost 1 in their last 5 outings.

Chelsea have recorded 30 points at home, scoring 17 and conceding 5. They are ranked as the 6th best home side in this campaign.

Coach Samuel Boadu’s side are unbeaten in their last 5 home games and are the second club with the least number of goals conceded at home (5).

Hearts of Oak have recorded just 1 win in their last 5 games with 4 defeats. They are 12th on the table with 35 points. The Phobians have managed to accumulate 12 points away from home, scoring 10 and conceding 16. They are ranked as the 6th best away side in the league. Hearts of Oak are winless in their last 3 consecutive away games.

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Berekum Chelsea have played Hearts of Oak three times at home in the league since 2020/21 season and all ended in a goalless draw.

The Phobians are yet to find the back of the net at the Golden City Park in Berekum since 2020/21.

Premier league top scorer Stephen Amankonah will be available for the game on Wednesday with the hope of extending his 12-goal tally.

Chelsea can rely on other key players like Afriyie Mezack, Patrick Ansu, Awuah Dramani, Ahmed Adams, Patrick Asiedu, Yaw Dankwah, Zakaria Fuseini, Hubert Gyan, Vincent Adjei, Collins Ameyaw, Shaibu Haruna and Emmanuel Sarpong.

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Youngster Hamza Issah, the second top scorer in the league is expected to start the game for the Phobians on Wednesday.

Other players include, Kofi Agbesimah, David Oppong Afrane, Kasim Cisse, Ibrahim Salifu, Glid Otanga, Linda Mtange, Salim Adams, Denis Korsah, Yaw Amankwah Baah, Micheal Ampadu, Thomas Winimi and Enock Asubonteng all available for selection.

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 Aduana can cause more problems for Kotoko

 “Getting back to the top of the table is difficult but not impossible, and it’s not over until the end.”

These were the words of newly appointed Technical Director/Interim Head Coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Karim Zito Kabutey, as he gets ready to lead his charges against Aduana Stars at the Baba Yara Stadium tomorrow.

Supporters of the Porcupine Warriors have the belief that the league title is within reach and are supporting coach Zito to give it his best shot beginning from the game tomorrow.

Kotoko currently occupy the fourth position on the league log with 47 points, six points shy of leaders, Bibiani Gold Stars, while Aduana lie 10th with 38 points.

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Games between the Porcupine Warriors and the ‘Ogya’ Boys have left fans at the edge of their seats, and tomorrow’s game will be no exception.

Kotoko recorded a 2-0 away win in Dormaa in the first round against the then-struggling Dormaa side; however, with the coming of Romanian coach, Cioaba Aristica, a lot has changed since then, and tomorrow’s game will not be a walk in the park for the home side.

Coach Aristica, ahead of the game, believes Aduana is too good a team to be languishing in mid-table and hopes to lift them on the log beginning with tomorrow’s game.

League leaders Bibiani Gold Stars will trek to the Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex in Tema to play as guests of Vision FC.

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With their title aspiration firmly in their hands, the Bibiani Boys will be motivated to hold their own against the Tema lads, who will need to play above themselves if they are to pick at least a point from this game.

Today at the Accra Sports Stadium, Accra Lions will welcome Bechem United in a must-win game for the host if they are to keep alive any realistic chances of avoiding relegation.

At 6pm, under the lights at the TNA Stadium in Tarkwa, Medeama SC will host Young Apostles.

In other games tomorrow, Legon Cities play Heart of Lions at the Tuba Astro Turf, Karela United will stay put at the Aliu Mahama Stadium in Tamale to host Dreams FC, while Berekum Chelsea will host Nations FC at the Golden City Park.

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Defending champions, Samartex FC, will face off with neighbours, Basake Holy Stars, at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena.

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Sports

 Overcoming sponsorship fatigue in sports

Mr Kofi Adams
Mr Kofi Adams

 Speaking to top sports administrators in Ghana over the innumerable challenges facing sports administration, one concern rings across, and that is sponsorship.

Sponsorship, the world over is the backbone of sports development and promotion.

A federation or major sanctioning bodies may have the most skillful hands in terms of personnel but without sponsorship, their plans would remain stuck in their books.

Federations with huge budgets and fat sponsorship deals like football, athletics etc, are touted as the most successful federations.

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It is not always the case that those below that level lacked qualified personnel to plan; the truth is that without sponsorship, no discipline can rival the likes of football and athletics for example.

It is a global challenge; Ghana is no exception.

Fact is, a number of the sports federations here have failed to break out due to the lack of sponsorship deals and the truth is that, they may not be able to reach certain heights without it.

Barely six months in office as Sports and Recreation Minister, Mr Kofi Iddi Adams, has identified this huge funding gap and has been encouraging companies to partner government to develop sports.

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During a visit to the Borteyman Sports Complex to watch an International Tennis Federation (ITF) juniors event, Mr Adams urged the private sector players to be involved in the organisation of sports in the country because government alone cannot shoulder that responsibility.

“Public-Private-Partnerships is one sure way to sustain such essential developmental initiatives and I believe the coming on board of more corporate bodies would help in that light,” Mr Adams said during his interaction with the media during the visit.As an ardent follower of sports, that is surely the way to go in the wake of what appeared a sponsorship fatigue among the private sector partners.

In the past, companies like Mobil Ghana, Nestle Ghana Limited, Ghana Brewery Limited and many others became so synonymous with sports as a result of their connection to the industry.

Through Mobil’s support for athletics, Ghana produced a lot of great athletes that performed at the highest stage of the sport while Nestle with its Milo brand helped unearth long distant runners through the Milo Marathon organised by the Dansoman Keep Fit Club and the Milo championship for tennis.

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When they exited, other companies filled their shoes but sadly, those relationships have not been sustained and over the years, they have gone into hibernation.

Sponsorships of this nature are huge financial drains on these corporate sector players and for that matter, such calls does not produce the harmonious notes they want to hear.

Most of these companies that have expressed interest in partnering government in that direction have also complained about economic challenges and the absence of tax rebates.

From this, one gathers that there is the need for a common ground or some compromise for the sports sector to begin to attract these companies.

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Sports no doubt has become a big business, providing varied platforms for a lot of the youth to get their daily bread and also, feed their families.

Obviously with the numbers it commands, it should be easier to attract the corporate sector support but since they are not coming, it’s clearly shows that there is a missing link.

This is the reason why the Minister of Sports and Recreation’s call for the involvement of the corporate sector must not be a rhetoric just as it has been with previous ministers that occupied the role.

This should be the time to walk the talk. Efforts must be made to identify some of these organisation with the wherewithal to support, get to know their frustrations with sports and why they shy away.

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It would also be appropriate to know their expectation in such partnerships so that a win-win situation would be achieved at the end of the day.

From the side of the sports administrators, they must prove their professional capabilities and run the federations transparently to erase doubts about their operations.

 By Andrew Nortey

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