By Daniel Kenu, Graphic Sports
New entrants, Medeama FC (Kessben), have thrown a dangerous salvo in their inaugural Glo Premier League match at Kotoko, and this is already showing signs of dividing the front of the Porcupine Warriors.
Sunday’s shock 0-1 loss by Kotoko has generated a heated debate among their fans who are calling for the return of ex-striker, Stephen Manu (a.k.a B.A).
Manu, who was off-loaded last season, executed the class act in New Edubiase’s 3-1 win over Arsenal and became the first player to register a hat-trick in the opening round of matches in the league.
Medeama-Kessben’s giant-killing feat, and New Edubiase’s sensational start, are signs that this season’s league may be one of the most exciting in recent times.
With their confidence level thus heightened, Medeama-Kessben are set to deliver yet another punch at one of the heavyweights in Ghana football, Accra Hearts of Oak, as the two clash at the Sekondi Stadium on Sunday.
These are early days yet for any firm conclusion to be drawn, though, but if the performance of Hearts last Sunday is anything to go by, against the backdrop of Medeama-Kessben’s lion heart, then fans will be in for a real showdown at the Sekondi Stadium.
It will be another test for Hearts’ Osei Pele who is already showing that his performance during the off-season competitions was not a flash in the pan.
And it is the character of Pele and his colleagues, against the resilience of Medeama-Kessben, that will be of interest to pundits.
Having failed at home, Coach Ebo Mends may not find help at the Carl Reindorf Park where his side Kotoko, play badly-bruised Liberty Professionals who lost 0-2 to Wa All Stars and need an image-repairing win back in Dansoman.
But Coach Ebo Mends is not giving up on hope since he knows that the momment he does that, it may be the end of his coaching career.
Kotoko are descending on Dansoman with a firm beleif of rewriting last Sunday’s wrong at the Baba Yara Stadium.
With a morale-boosting lone-goal victory over fellow new promoters, Mighty Jets, Dwarfs face their first litmus test against Ashgold at the Len Clay Stadium.
Emmanuel Odoi leads Kumasi King Faisal at home against Aduana, Mighty Jets face off with All Stars at the El-Wak Stadium, while RTU play host to New Edubiase at the Tamale Stadium.
Arsenal are set to bounce back against B. A. Stars in a regional derby, while exciting Chelsea face a difficult away assignment against Heart of Lions at Kpando.