It will be a case of vengeance or supremacy when traditional giants, Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak lock horns at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in a top week nine Glo Premier League encounter.
The outcome will no doubt have great consequences on both sides as far as their resolve to catch a place up the league table and the huge rivalry that exist between them were concern.
For Paa Kwesi Fabien, head coach of Hearts, it appears the pressure on him has waned following his side’s 3-0 authoritative win over Wa All Stars at the Ohene Djan Stadium and against Kotoko; he has high hopes of building on that performance with a landmark victory over their fiercest rivals.
But for his opposite man, Ebo Mends, he will aim at killing two birds with a single stone.
While he expects a win to restore the confidence of the fans and appease them for the unexpected fall to King Faisal last Sunday, Mends mind will be to pay back the Phobians for causing his exit at Kotoko on his first romance with the Asanteman club as a coach.
Mends fell as the main casualty in 1999 when he led the Porcupine Warriors during the famous ‘Rebuilding’ era under the Herbert Mensah administration. He was fired after losing to the Phobians and was replaced by Coach Ernst Middendorp.
Eleven years down the line, Mends finds himself in a similar situation, leading the club he played for to take vengeance on Hearts with a team which strength is similar to that which he paraded on that fateful day.
Ahead of the match, there have been several reports suggesting that the outcome of this match will determine his future with the club, meaning that the pressure will not be just on the playing body but the coach as well.
Hunted by that ghost, Mends will leave no stone unturned in his quest to beat Hearts to restore Kotoko’s image and revive their chances of dethroning Aduana as champions.
But in doing that, he will have to deal with some of the weaknesses detected in their game against Faisal which ensured their fall. The reality is that with Hearts, they may not have that luxury to pull two goals back like they did.
Hearts demonstrated how potent they can be on a good day with three great goals against Wa All Stars. In Edwin Osei Pele, Uriah Asante, Douglas Nkrumah and Wilson Andoh, they will certainly be dangerous again for the Kotoko defence.
Fortunately, Kotoko also have very effective attackers in the persons of Alex Asamoah, Louis Agyemang, Daniel Nii Adjei and Jordan Opoku who could serve as threat to Hearts.
Fact is, the game is one of equals but Hearts comes as favourites looking at the performance of both sides and the difficulty Kotoko go through in their matches at home.
Elsewhere Chelsea will oblige BA Stars to the Golden City Park while Ebusua Dwarfs returns to the Robert Mensah Stadium to face New Edubiase in a clash that promises to be full of thrills.
Fresh from their Humiliation by Hearts last Sunday, Wa All Stars will attempt to salvage their image as they welcome Aduana to Wa while Faisal ride on the back of their shocking win over Kotoko to face Dansoman Liberty Professsionals at the Carl Reindorf Park.
RTU will have a Herculean task against Mighty Jets at the El-Wak Stadium; Arsenal will play as guests of Ashgold at the Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi while Heart of Lions engages Kessben at the Kpando Park.
The outcome will no doubt have great consequences on both sides as far as their resolve to catch a place up the league table and the huge rivalry that exist between them were concern.
For Paa Kwesi Fabien, head coach of Hearts, it appears the pressure on him has waned following his side’s 3-0 authoritative win over Wa All Stars at the Ohene Djan Stadium and against Kotoko; he has high hopes of building on that performance with a landmark victory over their fiercest rivals.
But for his opposite man, Ebo Mends, he will aim at killing two birds with a single stone.
While he expects a win to restore the confidence of the fans and appease them for the unexpected fall to King Faisal last Sunday, Mends mind will be to pay back the Phobians for causing his exit at Kotoko on his first romance with the Asanteman club as a coach.
Mends fell as the main casualty in 1999 when he led the Porcupine Warriors during the famous ‘Rebuilding’ era under the Herbert Mensah administration. He was fired after losing to the Phobians and was replaced by Coach Ernst Middendorp.
Eleven years down the line, Mends finds himself in a similar situation, leading the club he played for to take vengeance on Hearts with a team which strength is similar to that which he paraded on that fateful day.
Ahead of the match, there have been several reports suggesting that the outcome of this match will determine his future with the club, meaning that the pressure will not be just on the playing body but the coach as well.
Hunted by that ghost, Mends will leave no stone unturned in his quest to beat Hearts to restore Kotoko’s image and revive their chances of dethroning Aduana as champions.
But in doing that, he will have to deal with some of the weaknesses detected in their game against Faisal which ensured their fall. The reality is that with Hearts, they may not have that luxury to pull two goals back like they did.
Hearts demonstrated how potent they can be on a good day with three great goals against Wa All Stars. In Edwin Osei Pele, Uriah Asante, Douglas Nkrumah and Wilson Andoh, they will certainly be dangerous again for the Kotoko defence.
Fortunately, Kotoko also have very effective attackers in the persons of Alex Asamoah, Louis Agyemang, Daniel Nii Adjei and Jordan Opoku who could serve as threat to Hearts.
Fact is, the game is one of equals but Hearts comes as favourites looking at the performance of both sides and the difficulty Kotoko go through in their matches at home.
Elsewhere Chelsea will oblige BA Stars to the Golden City Park while Ebusua Dwarfs returns to the Robert Mensah Stadium to face New Edubiase in a clash that promises to be full of thrills.
Fresh from their Humiliation by Hearts last Sunday, Wa All Stars will attempt to salvage their image as they welcome Aduana to Wa while Faisal ride on the back of their shocking win over Kotoko to face Dansoman Liberty Professsionals at the Carl Reindorf Park.
RTU will have a Herculean task against Mighty Jets at the El-Wak Stadium; Arsenal will play as guests of Ashgold at the Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi while Heart of Lions engages Kessben at the Kpando Park.
