From a long festive season, the first weekend of the New Year sees league football return to the grounds as clubs bounce back from the break in the Glo Premier League.
The weekend would see the telecommunication sponsor mark its debut with the premiership after the Ghana Football Association signed a $15 million deal for a five-year period. The first season earns the league $3million.
The stakes had always been high since the start of the league but with the additional boost from the league sponsors, match-day-5 is expected to provide lots of thrills.
After a 13-day break, clubs would return to competition with much optimism as a host of the sides position themselves within the top four while others fall off the pace even before the league reaches the halfway stage.
The weekend’s fixtures pits the table toppers with the struggling bottom side Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra where champions, Asante Kotoko play Sporting Mirren, who are yet to claim a point after four games.
At the Len Clay Stadium, AshantiGold will try to put some smile on the faces of their peeved followers when they welcome Heart of Lions to Obuasi.
The Miners after their opening day win have lost three successive matches. And this has increased the worries of their fans after what was expected to be a season which the Miners would challenge for the title.
The weekend presents the league with its first derby clash of the year as the grudge Sekondi derby takes centre stage. It would be the first derby game between both sides in the topflight in over a decade.
Hasaacas, who have picked one point from a possible 12 and are just a place above the bottom team, would be home to Eleven Wise at the Sekondi Sports Stadium.
In Kumasi, King Faisal, who are yet to record a win, having drawn twice and lost on two occasions play Berekum Arsenals.
Gamba All Blacks, third from bottom return to their favourite grounds at the Swedru Sports Stadium where they play Kessben FC while Real Tamale United travel to the Sunyani Coronation Park to play debutants, Berekum Chelsea, who are second on the standings and still unbeaten.
Accra Hearts of Oak would be away to All Stars in Wa. The Phobians are yet to find their form having managed some three wins. Hearts would find in the Blues, a difficult unit to beat.
The final match-day-5 fixture comes off at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra on Monday as strugglers; Liberty Professionals play an in-form Tema Youth side.