Like they say,” a journey of a million miles begins with the first step.” It took long for the 2017 Ghana Premier League to begin but it didn’t take too long for excitements, jamboree and panache to build up.
After a long legal battle with the Football Association a surprising decision had to be settled on when Tema Youth were allowed to take part of this seasons Ghana Premier League based on a CAS directive that had the FA look into the matter between them and Dreams FC.
There was a sudden change in euphoria because our own “agoro” was billed to start. Fans, journalists and Clubs were enthusiastically ready for the league. It started, the games begun; the controversies and limitless surprises engulfed the game.
Here are ten moments you will need to know about the beautiful game this season
WAFA tops the Ghana Premier League
In Ghana, it’s rare to have academies play in the league and as a matter of fact top the table. WAFA have always been an exciting team to watch but never in their history have they led the Ghana Premier League even in their days as Feyenoord Academy. On Wednesday they beat Ashantigold by three goals to move up on top of the log.
The club relatively unknown has proven without any reasonable doubt they can place a respectable position but the question now is CAN THEY WIN THE LEAGUE? Only time will tell, it’s still early days.
Luga’s Tactics
Before the season began Kotoko announced the signing of Croatian tactician Zdravko Lugarisic on a two year deal. The Croat is not new to the Ghana Premier League- he had coached Ashantigold and King Faisal and he knew the challenge that comes with leading Kotoko. In kotoko, no result is accepted if it is not a win. It was a mammoth task for Luga.
Luga from the onset had everybody talking with his famous 3-5-2 formation against Liberty professionals in their league opener. It wasn’t a vintage performance by the Porcupine warriors in the opener but Kotoko beat Liberty 2-1.
Fans started quizzing themselves, would the formation work? Analyst said Kotoko do not have the materials for that system and even some coaches felt it was a system set to fail.
However, GPL’s “Antonio Conte” has managed to churn out results with the formation and the porcupine warriors are second on the table.
It took 9 games for Olympics to win a game
Wonders they say shall never end and the WONDER CLUB continue to wow us with the predictable. It was almost certain they were going to drop points in every game they played. It made the job of radio and television easy because they were always eager to mention the long list of accolades before telling us the result of their game. I do that a lot.
Olympics have played some good football this season but have been unfortunate with some of the results. On match day 9, luck struck them when the beat Ebusua Dwarfs 1-0 to ease the pressure on the club that constantly stairs relegation.
Gyan leads the goal king race
Not Asamoah Gyan! But it feels good anytime a Gyan is doing well.
Nicholas Gyan has taken the season by storm with some breathtaking performances. He leads the goal king chart with 7 seven goals after 10 games. Ebusua Dwarfs are having a fairly good season hugely because of the goals from Gyan.
Last season, the onus was on Bright Lukman. He had to score to keep them in the league. Questions were raised when he departed for Accra Hearts of Oak. However, Lukman has not been missed because of the sensational Gyan.
Can Gyan go on to win the league? “I can score goals but I have set a target of eighteen to nineteen goals. I will score nineteen goals to win the golden boot,” he told me.
Bashiru Hayford resigns but his resignation letter caught our attention
“It doesn’t take a frog too long a time to jump from a boiling water.”- Bashiru Hayford
The boiling water was too hot for Bashiru Hayford that he had to leave his post as Coach of Ashantigold. After several months of speculations, the coach who lead the miners to their first league title after 19 years had to resign.
The miners have been poor since winning the league two seasons ago. They suffered the biggest defeat of the season when they lost 5-1 at Berekum Chelsea and it followed another poor away performance at WAFA- a game they lost 3-0. Sandwiched in those two away displays were a defeat to Elmina sharks and a draw with Bolga All stars.
Bashiru Hayford might have jumped out of the boiling water but the entire Ashantigold team is still burning in hot waters.
Hearts beat Kotoko in Accra for the first time in 8 years.
Accra Hearts of Oak beat arch rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko in Accra for the first time in eight years. It was Kotoko’s first defeat of the season. Prior to the game the porcupine warriors looked the better side and were very confident because their last visit to Accra ended in a triumph.
Meanwhile, Hearts had lost to Team Youth and looked dejected and crestfallen.
But like we say games between Hearts and Kotoko transcends form guide.
Sukah Shocked Kotoko
Games between Hearts and Kotoko never end without controversies. Referee Smuel Sukah awarded Accra Hearts of Oak a late penalty that saw them beat bitterest rival Kotoko 1-0 in Accra.
The aftermath of the penalty caused stir in the footballing world in Ghana. Aggrieved fans of Kotoko cursed Sukah, Kotoko tabloids read “Sukah Blacklisted.”
The agony of the defeat left a supporters chief of the club to accuse a traditional ruler of being part of the reason Kotoko lost, and that was ridiculous.
However, it took a GFA video to vindicate Sukah after Startimes cameras gave different angles that looked unclear.
WAFA wins an away game
This was shocking news and they didn’t beat just any club but the champions and again the score line was unthinkable, 4-1.
WAFA were terrible travelers, ahead of their match against Wa All-stars they had not won a game on the road in 27 travels. And Wa All stars were absolutely invincible at home. They had not lost in 20 games at home.
The verve from their victory in Wa propelled them to another stunning victory in Bechem.
Aduana’s blistering start
Aduana Stars have begun the season is a phenomenal way. This form this season is a complete irony of last season’s start. Last season they lost their first three games but have turned the tide completely.
They looked unstoppable until they lost their first game against Dwarfs. Dennis Sasraku looks to have slotted in the Yahaya Mohammed position very well. Godfred Saka has not just been a leaded but has also led the assist board.
If there is any team that looks like winning the league then it’s Aduana.
Berekum Chelsea’s Pitch
Chelsea’s pitch trended for days after their game against Kumasi Asante Kotoko. It felt like a crime for showing the game on Television. It painted a gloomy picture of the Ghana Premier League but did not take away the beauty of the game.
There were some of the moments in the Ghana Premier League that could not escape our lenses.
By Lukman Evergreen Mumin
Ghana Football Expert
(YFM Sports)
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