[ 2014-06-01 ]

Preview: Kotoko highly motivated to beat Heart in Ghana Premier League derby
The Super Clash is finally here and the Porcupine
Warriors are brimming with confidence to conquer
Hearts of Oak in the penultimate match of the
First Capital Plus League on Sunday at the Baba
Yara Stadium to make the 2013/14 season a great
one for their teeming supporters.

Kotoko have not played any league match in Kumasi
since beating Bechem United 2-1 on April 6.

Their home games against Inter Allies and Wa All
Stars were scheduled for Accra and Tamale due to
the closure of the Baba Yara Stadium following
misconduct by some fans in Kotoko's 0-1 loss to
Heart of Lions on March 26, 2014.

Sunday will be the first time in almost two months
that Coach Didi Dramani and his boys will play a
league match in Kumasi.

It is against no other side than their bitterest
rivals Hearts of Oak.

Like any Super Clash, Sunday's much awaited duel
is expected to be explosive looking at what is at
stake.

Kotoko, despite being uncrowned league champions
already, are bent on winning the game to complete
double win over Hearts having played delightfully
to beat them 1-0 in the first round. Hearts are
third on the log sheet with 44 points, three
points behind the second team Heart of Lions.

They are aiming high to win Sunday's game to boost
their CAF Champions League slot ambition but
Kotoko players are not ready to give them any room
to achieve their ambition.

'We are well equipped for the game. Our supporters
should be rest assured that Kotoko will triumph'
said intelligent midfielder Michael Akuffu who
scored that memorable winner when the Porcupines
beat Hearts 2-1 at the same venue two seasons
ago.

Kotoko are going into this battle highly motivated
having won their last two competitive games. Last
Wednesday Kotoko trekked to Bekwai to beat New
Edubiase 2-1 to wrap the league. Following that
hard fought win, central defender Abeiku Ainooson
warned Hearts of Oak to be watchful since they are
coming with full force to repeat the dose on
them.

Kotoko last Sunday made clear their intention to
triumph in the big showdown when they silenced
King Faisal 2-0 in the semi final of the MTN FA
Cup in Kumasi courtesy strikers Abdul Aziz and
Seidu Bancey who scored the all important goal in
Kotoko's 1-0 win over Hearts in their last meeting
in Accra on September 22, 2013. Though the striker
has not promised any goal on Sunday, he is hoping
to team up effectively with his colleagues to
ensure Hearts fall in Kumasi.

The Fabulous Boys have been fruitful in their last
two encounters with Hearts in Kumasi. During the
2011/12 Glo Premiership season, Kotoko showed
their proverbial fighting spirit to beat their
archrivals 2-1. The following season's encounter
ended goalless. The Fabulous Boys won't lower
their guards on Sunday.

Coach Didi Dramani says he is not treating the
upcoming game as anything special because he has a
rich record of not conceding defeat against Hearts
since taking over the Porcupines two seasons ago.
He has won one and drawn two out of his three
meetings with Hearts. Knowing the great importance
that Kotoko faithful attach to this particular
game, he has strategized well to secure the three
points.

Preparations for the Super Clash have been
intensive and Kotoko players are only waiting for
Sunday to teach Hearts a bitter lesson. A cursory
look at Kotoko's current set up shows that apart
from maybe Rahim Ayew and Osman Bashiru who have
not tasted the Super Clash before, virtually all
the other players have enough experience about the
big game. This obviously put Kotoko in
advantageous position to win and strong midfielder
Prince Baffoe believes great support from the fans
will help make the task easier.

'We want to see a full house on Sunday because
that gives us the strength to deliver in such big
games' he noted.

The other fixtures for the 29 th week are: New
Edubiase vrs Wa All Stars, Inter Allies vrs Aduana
Stars, Hasaacas vrs Dwarfs, Bechem United vrs
Medeama, Berekum Chelsea vrs Amidaus
Professionals, Heart of Lions vrs King Faisal,
Liberty Professionals vrs Ashgold.

Source - Ghanasoccer

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