By William Quarmine
By the end of October, 2010 (9 games played), Berekum Chelsea had neither lost nor conceded at home, making the Golden City Park the most fortified home grounds.
Other teams who had not lost at home were Berekum Arsenal (Golden City Park), New Edubiase (Gyamfi Park), All Stars (Wa Park) and champions Aduana (Agyemang Badu II Park).
Accra Hearts of Oak’s experienced goal keeper Sammy Adjei and his co-defenders had ensured that by the end of October the glorious club had conceded only 1 away goal.
New Edubiase, Kotoko, Hearts of Oak and Kessben had all recorded 2 away wins (the highest so for). R.T.U had not won or drawn an away game.
From my perspective, the following personalities distinguished themselves in the month of October.
Coach of the month-Bashir Hayford
Bashir Hayford continued employing wing play to intrigue his fellow coaches in October.
[1] Bashir Hayford
[2] Atila Sekerelogu (Brerekum Chelsea)
[3] David Duncan (Ashgold)
Goal keeper of the month (October) -Sammy Adjei
Two goalkeepers were impressive in October; Heart of Lion’s Joseph Addo and Hearts of Oak’s Sammy Adjei. Both players conceded only once in October.
My pick for goal keeper of the month however is Sammy Adjei because Joseph Addo played one game less than Adjei. Besides, Sammy Adjei kept two away clean sheets awhile. Statistics notwithstanding, Sammy Adjei’s vast experience has been one of the secrets of Hearts of Oak this far.
[1] Sammy Adjei
[2] Joseph Addo (Heart of Lions)
Lateral /Wing back of the month (October)- Atta Kusi (Liberty)
The lateral defensive contest between Kessben left back Seth Owusu and Aduana right back Godfred Saka went on unabated. Atta Kusi of Liberty however caught my attention in October with some good display of football. Kusi capped a good month with a goal for his struggling side Liberty. Godfred Saka had a bad day on Match Day 9 when he put the ball past his own goal keeper.
[1] Atta Kusi (Liberty Professionals)
[2] Seth Owusu (Kessben)
[3] Godfred Saka (Aduana)
Central defender of the month (October)-Joseph Hendricks
For a veteran, Hendricks has imposed his rich experience on the Glo Premier league this season and he has been on target in October also.
Worth mentioning in this same position is Hearts of Oak’s U-20 star Karim Alhassan who continues to be one of the key reasons why the Accra-based club conceded only once in October.
Bright Nsiah of Heart of Lions, Emmanuel Akuoko of Aduana and Henry Ohene Brenya of Kotoko all distinguished themselves in the month of October.
[1] Joseph Hendricks (Kessben)
[2] Karim Alhassan (Hearts of Oak)
[3] Emmanuel Akuoko (Aduana)
Midfielder of the month (October)-Baba Gullit
Baba Gullit of New Edubiase was a driving force behind the dangerous New Edubiase forwards of Nuhu Fuseini and Stephen Manu; winning balls for them and providing them with quality assists.
Other players who distinguished themselves in October were Rafael Obeng of Kessben, Aaron Amoah of Mighty Jets, Obed Ansah of Hearts of Oak and Sherif Dan Lardi of Lions.
[1] Baba Gullit (New Edubiase)
[2] Obed Ansah (Hearts of Oak)
[3] Aaron Amoah (Mighty Jets)
Winger of the month (October) -Richard Mpong
Frank Acheampong remains the most exciting young winger to watch in Ghana. However, in the month of October, Richard Mpong was the most efficient in wing play.
The Kessben winger continues to find the net week after week, it should not be a surprise if he challenges for the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) player of the year and also the goal king race.
Besides Mpong, the quality of wing play displayed by All Stars’ Edwin Gyimah, Kessben’s Hans Coffie (who I believe is the most improved Ghanaian player this season) and Alfred Arthur of Chelsea cannot be overemphasized.
[1] Richard Mpong (Kessben)
[2] Hans Coffie (Kessben)
[3] Edwin Gyimah (All Stars)
Forward of the month (October)-Bismark Asiedu
There is little to choose between Bismark Asiedu of Dwarfs, Nana Poku of Berekum Arsenals and Stephen Manu of New Edubiase, who all found the net 3 times in October.
I will pick Bismark Asiedu ahead of the others because two of his goals were scored away from home. Frank Nortey Soawah (All Stars), Sumaila Atia (Real Tamale United), Nana Poku (Berekum Arsenals) and Emmanuel Clottey of Berekum Chelsea (who converted a beautiful free kick on Match Day 7) deserve honourable mention.
[1] Bismark Asiedu (Dwarfs)
[2] Stephen Manu (New Edubiase)
[3] Nana Poku (Berekum Arsenals)
Goal King race (Ending October, 2010) – Stephen Manu (6 goals)
Stephen Manu continued to lead the goal king race with 6 goals by the end of October.
Hans Coffie (Kessben), James Buadu (Kessben), Nana Poku (Arsenal), Alex Asamoah (Kotoko) and Bismark Asiedu (Dwarfs) are following Stephen Manu keenly with 4 goals apiece.
William Quarmine