Match Day 25 provides Ghanaian football fans with the biggest football game on the local club football calendar.
Whether you are an avid fan or just someone who appreciates the game, no matter what you know one game in particular that is unique in Ghana is the “Super Clash between arch rivals Hearts of Oak vs. Asante Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
This match pits the two most accomplished teams in the country against each other in a game that historically rewarded the winning club with bragging rights as the best team in the country.
Although this year the two teams find themselves struggling in the bottom half of the table, that in no way takes away from the ambiance of the game and the national importance that comes with Sunday’s clash.
Simply looking at the Ghanaian greats who competed in The Super Clash bring to light the amount of incredible talent both teams have had on their rosters over the years. Hearts veterans like Mohammed Polo, Shamo Quaye, Don Bortey, Sammy Adjei, Jacob Nettey, Prince Tagoe, Dan Quaye and Ishamel Addo brings back memories of when the team held on to their supremacy with some grip.
But The Porcupine Warriors have also had their share of kings on the pitch to match these Hearts heroes. With Ex-Kotoko stars like Abdul Razak, Ibrahim Sunday, current CEO Opoku Nti, Godwin Ablordey, Stephen Oduro, Aziz Ansah and Eric Bekoe etc brought the team to its rightful place as a fierce competitor against in the Ghanaian top-flight league.
Kotoko’s ability to fight their way to the final of the FA Cup has provided them with confidence in recent times though the reigning Champions have fallen below their known standards this season. And just like any other high-profile rivalry this game has had its fair share of controversy as well. Probably the most memorable controversy in recent history was Charles Taylor’s switch from Hearts of Oak to Asante Kotoko which sparked one of the most bitter and public controversies in Ghana football’s history and the transfer saga that engulfed Kofi Abanga’s move to Hearts of Oak.
So this year’s game hopes to live up to its hype, and most importantly it aims to be a game with possible season ending possibilities. Just last week Kotoko was facing the reality of relegation after suffering back-to-back losses at the hands of Berekum Chelsea (0-3) and WAFA (1-0).
However the Porcupine Warriors fought their way out of possible elimination by defeating table toppers AshGold 1-0. Winger Frank Sarfo Gyamfi’s goal in the 24th minute provided life in the team and at the end of the match Manager David Duncan stated, “It didn’t come easy, but I’m elated.” They currently sit at 11th on the table and a win could propel them as high as 6th into a three-way tie with Wa All Stars and Hasaacas if they do not achieve victory this week.
The Phobians find themselves in a very unfamiliar territory as they currently sit in 14th position, and thus in relegation zone. The club has hit a difficult stretch over the past eleven games as they have only won two games, going 2 wins-5 losses -4 defeats.
The latest loss was 2-1 at the hands of Edubiase, but the previous week they showed great promise in the heavy win over Heart of Lions to the tune of 4-0. After being winless for six straight weeks, the lopsided win might have been just what the team needed to turn their luck around.
Stand-in coach Edward Ansah has said in recent interviews that the team has a long way to go before they reach the historical success the club is known for and he knows the team has the ability to fight their way out of their current rut. A win could see them climb as high as 11th on the table, thus out of relegation and into a three-way tie with Kotoko and Bechem United.
The two teams have played a total of 44 Ghana Premier League matches, with Kotoko holding the majority at 24. This year’s clash takes place at Accra Stadium, the home of Hearts of Oak. The Phobians defeated Kotoko at the same venue on July 1in the Presidents Cup.