The Ghana Premier League is gradually coming to an end.
25 games have been played in Ghana’s top flight, and not an awful lot remains.
Yet again, the top of the table has changed hands after this weekend’s games.
Asante Kotoko lead the way, while Bibiani GoldStars provide genuine competition as contenders for the league.
The Miners, however, will be cursing their stars from dropping points in the closing seconds against Hearts of Oak.
3Sports takes a look at five talking points from the weekend’s Ghana Premier League action.
Kotoko’s impressive home form sends them top
28 points from 36 is not a bad return. That is the number of points Kotoko have accumulated in the Ghana Premier League at home this season.
That number puts Kotoko only second to Bechem United, who are on a completely different level, going 11 games unbeaten at home without conceding a goal.
But the Porcupines have an equally impressive record. Their 28-point tally is only bettered by Bechem’s 29, which is a testament of how opponents dread facing Kotoko at the Baba Yara Stadium.
Asante Kotoko’s win against Basake Holy Stars on Sunday means they’ve notched up six consecutive wins at home.
Most importantly, Kotoko have usurped GoldStars at the league summit after they were leapfrogged a week prior after dropping points in Samreboi and Wenchi in stalemate.
The league is still far from done. Only a point separates Kotoko and GoldStars, who are by far the most consistent teams in a largely inconsistent league.
Hearts of Oak’s inconsistency derails title ambitions
“They look like title contenders; they looked like title contenders; they are title contenders.”
Fans and pundits have been on this tangent all season when trying to provide sound analysis and give meaning to what Hearts of Oak have been trying to do this season.
One moment they seem unbeatable, looking like a team that have exorcised the demons of the 2023/24 season. Another moment, they look fortunate to be where they are.
It’s just been way too inconsistent for Hearts of Oak, and the players know it.
After starting the year on a high with a five-game unbeaten streak, the Phobians have crumbled in their last three games, picking up a point out of the available nine.
Their 1-1 draw against GoldStars leaves them in fourth place on 37 points, five behind leaders Kotoko.
Hearts were fortunate to have walked out of the Dun’s park with a point to salvage their flat display.
Three defeats on the bounce without scoring stared them in the face until Stephen Asare’s goal deep in stoppage time rescued a point.
A strong finish to the season will never be required for them to add another Ghana Premier League crown to their ranks – a first since the 2020/21 season.
Samartex rejuvenated under Chris Ennin
After nine games under Christopher Ennin, Samartex are seven points better off than they were in their last nine games under erstwhile coach Nurudeen Amadu.
Although defending their league crown at this point of the season is impossible, Samartex have turned a corner in recentimes weeks.
They are 10 points behind league leaders Kotoko with 11 games to go. A top half finish is the only realistic target now.
Ennin has, however, laid the blueprint for what he wants to do and where he aspires to carry this team in the long term.
GFA confirms Nsoatreman’s withdrawal; opponents set to profit
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) officially confirmed Nsoatreman’s withdrawal from the league after the club made its intention clear last week.
Following the violence incident that transpired on matchday 19, which led to the unfortunate demise of fervid Kotoko fan Nana Pooley, Nsoatreman have cited safety concerns of players and staff.
The club says the players feel unsafe and enquired of the FA to bolster it’s security in order to rescind their decision, per Public Relations Officer (PRO) Joel Gyempeh.
However, they failed to come to a consensus, leaving Nsoatreman to stick to their initital decision of pulling out from the league – a decision which means all teams who are scheduled to face them will automatically be handed three points and three goals.
Additionally, the club have automatically been relegated from the league as a result.
Low turn out still persistent
Happy hour was introduced as part of the changes the GFA put in place to get fans on board.
Still in its early days, the plan looks to be going south, failing to achieve the intended purpose.
A stipulated time is handed to fans to troop in to games freely before the official commencement.
In Kumasi, during Kotoko v Basake, it was not a happy sight. The designated area for fans was left bare, with no fan spotted.
The overall stadium attendance was affected and so were other match centres.
Across other regions, aside Accra and Ashanti, fans try their best to fill the stadiums.
