The Ghana Premier League (GPL) enters week 10 this weekend as in-form Accra Hearts of Oak travel to Berekum to face Berekum Chelsea at the Golden City Park.
The 2010-2011 league Champions look to rise to the occasion to get their season on track by stopping a resurging Hearts of Oak side when the two teams face off on Saturday in this weekend’s GPL Match Week 10 fixture.
Berekum Chelsea have had a quiet start to the 2020/2021 league season, sitting 16th on the 18-team league table after 9 matches with 9 points. The Bibires, however, face Kosta Papic led Hearts of Oak who have lost just once under the Serbian tactician in 6 matches, hoping to redeem themselves against the Phobians.
TEAM NEWS
Berekum Chelsea
Chelsea will look to revive their home dominance spirit against Hearts of Oak by winning the match to keep themselves safe from the drop zone. The Bibires lost their former head coach Asare Bediako after the 2019/2020 season to Accra Hearts of Oak and replaced him with Michael Hesse Odamtten. However, the 54-year older gaffer was recently fired for poor performance after few games into the new league season. Currently, Berekum Chelsea are without a head coach and so the match against the Phobians today shall be supervised by assistant coach Abu Abdul-Hanan.
Abu Abdul-Hanan will have to prove tactical superiority over Papic if his side are to either carry the day or share the spoils with the visitors.
Accra Hearts of Oak
Accra Hearts of Oak head coach Kosta Papic named a 20-man squad for the trip to Berekum to face Berekum Chelsea this later today, with speedster Patrick Razak and goal machine Victor Aidoo both making the trip. The Phobians will however miss the services of in-form attacking midfielder, Abdul Manaf Umar who is suspended for the fixture through accumulated yellow cards.
Umar has been involved in five goals in the premiership since the Serbian trainer took over, and would have been a great addition in the Serbian’s starting 11. Moreover, the likes of Michelle Sarpong, Emmanuel Nettey, Abdoulrahmane Mamane Lawali as well as Abdul Aziz Nurudeen have all been ruled out of the game with respective injuries.
On the other hand, Hearts of Oak second highest top scorer in the league this season, Kojo Obeng Junior (3 goals) has returned to the squad after recovering from a long lay-off caused by an injury. Former Sarmatx FC skipper Victor Aidoo is Hearts of Oak’s top scorer in the league with 4 goals so far, and may start the game along with Obeng Junior in attack.
MATCH FACTS
- Berekum Chelsea have won just one of their last 5 Premier League games (D1,L3)
- The Bibires have scored just 7 goals in their last 9 league games this season and have conceded 12
- In a sharp contrast, Hearts of Oak have scored 16 goals in their last 9 league games this season, conceding 8
- Hearts of Oak have recorded 4 points in their last two away trips in the league.
- In their last 4 home league matches this season, Berekum Chelsea have won 2 and drawn 2, undefeated.
- Berekum Chelsea have won 4 of their last 5 league matches against Hearts of Oak in Berekum and lost 1.
HEAD TO HEAD
Since gaining promoting into the Ghana Premier League division in the 2008/2009 league season, Berekum Chelsea have faced Accra Hearts of Oak in the GPL for a total of 20 times. The fixture on Saturday, January 23, 2021 will be their 21st meeting in the top flight.
In their last 20 league matches, Berekum Chelsea have won 9, drawn 4 and lost 7 to Hearts of Oak. They have scored a total of 23 goals against Hearts of Oak in the process and conceded 19.
On the other hand, the Phobians have won just 7 out of their 20 league games against the Bibires, drawn 4 and lost 9. They have managed to score 19 goals and allowed 23.
MATCH INFORMATION
The game has been scheduled for Saturday, January 23, 2021 at 15:00GMT at the Berekum Golden City Park. The game will be live on Startimes TV Channel 247 (Adepa Channel).
MATCH: Berekum Chelsea vs Hearts of Oak (STARTIMES LIVE)
VENUE: Golden City, Berekum
REFEREE: Alfa Ba-Adey
ASSISTANTS:Tijani Mohammed &Isaac Asante
4TH REFEREE: Maale Imgerde
MATCH COMMISSIONER: Andrews Derry
