Feature: Ghana League in retrospect

Published on: 23 May 2010

Ghanasoccernet's Nii Ayitey Tetteh chronicles the just ended Ghana Premier League after the PLB awarded deserving actors on Friday night.

The music seemed to bring renewed life to a rather laid back Friday night atmosphere in the pub; it was the hit song in town everybody was getting down to these days.

Joe smiled wryly at his own remark, Adauna Stars; 2009/2010 Glo Premier League Champions! ‘Something is just not right Nii, How did these Dormaa lads manage it in their debut season? I think the DJ should change the song because the fun is not even close, its way up in Dormaa Ahenkro.’

So goes the fairy tale of Aduana Stars, first ever debutants to win the Ghanaian Premier League, scoring 19 goals and conceding only 10 as well as  keeping a clean sheet at home.

"Wow!’ Joe exclaimed for the umpteenth time. I could sense a mixed emotion of disbelief and yet delight that the Hearts of Oak- Asante Kotoko duopoly over the past decade had been broken.

As we gulped down our drinks, Joe gradually came to terms with the reality that Aduana Stars had won the Glo Premier League in their debut season.

"Well, I think it is a refreshing change but overall I don’t think it was that exciting’ affirmed Joe. ‘I think you are right in the sense that it was not that competitive, but I think it was eventful’, I chipped in. ‘Eventful!’ Joe exclaimed. ‘I must have missed out’. ‘Yes you did, that’s what happens when you follow religiously the European leagues to the detriment of the domestic’ I responded. ‘Okay! Okay! Fill me in’, Joe requested grudgingly. ‘That would cost you another bottle’. ‘I’ll buy you a pack if you want’ Joe boasted.  ‘Okay deal! I responded. ‘Sit back and let me do you the honours my dear friend.’

THE CHEERS AND THE JEERS

Aduana fans would raise their glasses to a gutsy campaign that ensured an unbeaten home run.

Their fans would bow in respect and acknowledgement to the paramount chief of Dormaa Ahenkro, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II, a football fanatic who ensured that the resources needed were provided to achieve a remarkable success.

A closer look at Aduana‘s away record however leaves much to be desired. A measly 12 points out of a possible 45 may not even claim a top four position in a more competitive jurisdiction.

But hey, how do you criticize a winner? Coach Herbert Addo and his boys would come back next season even stronger.

Ashgold fans would raise their glasses to a successful campaign; yes they would, despite producing a disappointing display on the last day.

Needing only a point to claim the championship, Ashgold choked losing 1-0 away to Chelsea.

The runners-up wound up with 53 points, same as Aduana, only losing the championship on an inferior head to head record.

Ordinarily, a third place on any league log around the world would be respectable but not for fans of Accra Hearts of Oak.

For them, it’s almost a birthright to win the championship year in year out.

A strange decision to appoint Egyptian journeyman Ayman El-Yamany ensured a faulty start.

Coach Yusif Abubakar took over midway through the campaign but did not live to finish it.

Hearts fans would however be quick to point to some rare goalkeeping errors on Philemon McCarthy's part as well as bad refereeing decisions against striker Mahatma Otoo in two crucial matches which cost them badly. Phoooooobia! …. The muted response says it all.

I have always wondered what it took to have the heart of a lion, indeed I have. That heart, I bet is only strong enough to win Top 4 Competitions and not the league proper.

For me Kpando Heart of Lions were very disappointing. Despite losing coach Paa Kwesi Fabin to Kotoko, Lions still had the arsenal to do something special this season.

But alas, they came fourth despite a very poor away record of one solitary win and 10 losses. Hmm! isn’t that a mockery of Ghana’s premier league.

I feel the embarrassment even as I recount. But I guess I do not matter, it’s the fans who do and as sure as the sun rises they must be saying in Ewe ‘Akpe na mi’ (Thank you)

‘Ei! Enti Kotoko paaa nie!’ is the new refrain on the lips of most Asante Kotoko fans. It means ‘Is this how badly Kotoko have sunk?

Well yes, so bad that a play off had to be arranged between the ‘Fabulous’ boys and Wa All Stars to separate two on the final standings with both clubs pegged on 44 points as well as being on par head to head.

Kotoko won 11-10 on penalties to secure the 5th position.

But the average Kotoko fan would have been relieved to see the back of a season which promised so much but rather delivered heart aches.

Big name signings were made; Coach Paa Kwesi Fabin from Top 4 winners Heart of Lions, players like Samad Oppong, Kabiru Moro, Edward Affum and several others joined the club amid fanfare. Yes, they were our own ‘galacticos’.

But on hindsight, it is apparent that competing interests disunited the club which ensured a disappointing season.

Wa All Stars performed quite admirably placing 6th.

For a club that joined the elite division only 3 seasons ago, credit goes to ex-national star, Maxwell Konadu as well as Nuru Ahmed for supervising a commendable campaign while playing some sexy football.

Berekum Arsenal ensured that they made optimum use of their ammunition to place 7th.

A modest achievement largely due to an unbeaten home record at the Golden City Park. Arsenal fans would not be complaining at all about their mid table status.

When a team combines two communities, Bechem and Chelsea, to form one team, then you can be excused if you expect something special.

Bechem Chelsea's fans will however consider their 8th position nothing special against the backdrop that they placed 6th the previous season.

The just ended season also witnessed a rare miracle. The back tyre eventually overtook the front tyre! Mr. Bashir Hayford, how do you explain that?

Earlier in the season, when Kessben FC sat comfortably on top of the summit, their coach Bashir Hayford was so confident their lead was unassailable that he likened the possibility of another team dislodging them to that of a back tyre of a vehicle overtaking the front tyre.

Yes, yes, yes, the analogy was utterly ridiculous! But can you blame a man for having that much faith in his team. That faith, however could not forestall Kessben’s free fall to the 9th position.

After a very nervy start, Alhaji Grunsah’s King Faisal finished 10th. Their fans would be quick to point to coach Zdravko Logarusic who supervised their resurgence and escape from the relegation zone.

For fans of Real Tamale United, surviving the campaign is enough satisfaction a considering the turbulent times they went through to eventually finish 11th.

The fans’ relief however cannot be compared to that of Coach Abdul Razak who almost lost his job in the course of the season due to several disagreements with the club.

The Golden boy has survived to fight another day.

Another team that experienced a turbulent campaign was New Edubiase, coached at the start of the season by E.K Afranie; they found the intrigues of the premier league quite overwhelming.

It was the introduction of ex-international Mohammed Gargo who took over from Afranie, that ensured stability and survival in their debut season placing 12th.

Folks from Dansoman, would not be cheering their favourite team considering that Liberty Professionals escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth finishing in 13th position.

From Isaac Acquaye to Sellas Tetteh to George Lamptey, changes at the technical helm of the club ensured a poor season. The season would be one Liberty fans would want to forget in a hurry.

‘Oly Dade! Oly Gbogbo! Oly Rosalinda! Oly Juli-June!’ are the numerous accolades fans of Great Olympics respond to, and that was about the most exciting thing about the  ‘Wonder Club’.

They retuned to the top flight amid pomp but could not survive due to internal power struggle, player and coaching instability.

Indeed the reasons adduced above seemed to be the common thread that wove the relegation cloth of other ‘relegatees’ together.

Fifteenth placed Eleven Wise began the campaign with Scottish coach Eddie Gallager, and then later appointed the suite wearing ex-national stars, C.K Akonnor and Nii Odartey Lamptey.

But the rookie coaches could not stand the western heat, and rightly, those suites were taken off. Hans Dieter Schmidt who took over could not do any better.

For Hasaacas, a team imbued with so much talent including the exciting James Ato Bissah, they clearly suffered from a lack of motivation.

It is the only plausible reason for losing your last 9 matches! The wooden spoon is rightfully theirs.

The ‘OOHS’ AND THE ‘AAHS’

The season was also laden with other incidents of note. But Joe, allow me to first pay my respect to Bartholomew Yeboah, the 19 year old Kessben FC defender, who passed away after he collapsed on the field in a match against Liberty Professionals.

A minute silence won’t be out of place. Tick! Tock, 59, 60 seconds! May his soul rest in perfect peace!

My heart also goes out to Gideon Baah, the Asante Kotoko left back and first MTN Soccer Academy winner, who broke his leg in the second round league encounter against arch rival Hearts of Oak in Kumasi.

Hearts completed the double over Kotoko winning that match 1-0.

I cannot forget Kessben FC’s amazing comeback against Accra Hearts of Oak where they came back from two goals down to win 3-2.

Hearts goalie Philemon McCarthy was the star that day gifting goals.

Special mention goes to Aduana’s Stephen Adams who conceded just 10 goals over the entire campaign, Kessben FC striker Bismark Idun and Hearts rising star Mahatma Ottoo for lightening up the season as they finished joint goal king with 13 goals each.

A mere 13 goals! Joe mocked. Just then his intended critique was interrupted by a loud cheer. It was that song again!

Joe strangely did not seem irritated by it this time and joined in the fun boldly declaring ‘This is where the fun is after all, not in Dormaa’.

Well, folks in Dormaa, home of the newly crowned champions Aduana Stars, would disagree. They will tell you, like the new hit song ‘Dormaa Ay3 d3, Bebiaa Ewu!

NII AYITEY TETTEH

Email: [email protected]

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