Ghana Premier League (GPL) new entrants Bibiani Gold Stars welcome giants Accra Hearts of Oak on Saturday in an interesting contest at the Dun’s Park in Match-week 12 of the ongoing 2021/2022 Ghana Premier League season.
Founded in 1998 then with the name the Complex Stars, Gold Stars are in their 1st season in the history of the Ghana Premier League, and will welcome one of the pioneers of the competition, Accra Hearts of Oak in Match Day twelve of the 2021-2022 Ghana Premier League campaign at Bibiani on Saturday.
Bibiani Gold Stars made their GPL debut in the 2021-2022 season after gaining promotion from the lower division league. They played their first premier league match at home at the Dun’s Park in Bibiani against one time champions of the competition, Berekum Chelsea. Their 18-year old forward Kingsford Boafo made history in the game against Chelsea, when he scored Gold Stars’ first ever premier league goal in the 53rd minute of the second half, which powered his side to a first premier league game victory.
The “Gye Nyame” lads will come up against 21-time champions of the league Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club, who are also in their 59th appearance in the league since its inauguration in 1956.
Saturday’s game against Hearts of Oak will be a sixth (6th) home match in the 2021-22 campaign for Gold Stars, and they look forward to put the Phobians to the sword. The Bibiani based club will seek to record a first premier league match win against the Phobians who will also be hoping for a win in what will be their maiden premiership encounter against ‘The Golden Boys’.
TEAM NEWS
Bibiani Gold Stars FC
The ‘Gye Nyame’ Boys, also known as ‘The Golden Boys’ will go into the match against Accra Hearts of Oak with much of morale as they have all key players available with no injury concerns.
The newly promoted side will look to return to winning ways after suffering a defeat in their last game, slipping to a narrow 2-1 loss against King Faisal at the Baba Yara sports stadium. Being coached by Michael Osei, a legend of Asante Kotoko, the bitterest rivals of Accra Hearts of Oak, the Golden Boys will definitely stretch beyond their limit to find a win to also redeem themselves after the away loss to King Faisal.
Accra Hearts of Oak
Coach Samuel Boadu has no injury concerns in camp ahead of the match against Bibiani Gold Stars. Boadu has a full house of his key players all fit for this game, and has the materials for any system of his choice.
Striker Kofi Kordzi, who bagged brace against Berekum Chelsea in their one but last game before this game has been included in the squad for the crucial game. Other key players like Daniel Afriyie Barnie, striker Kojo Obeng Jnr, centre back Mohammed Alhassan, midfielder Frederick Ansah Botchway and the likes are all available for selection.
However, the Phobians will have to do without their safest pair of hands, the first choice goalkeeper Richard Atta, who is currently on national duty with the senior national team, the Black Stars for the African Cup of Nation in Cameroon. In his stead, goalkeeper Richmond Ayi has been in the post for Accra Hearts of Oak, and is expected to keep the post against Gold Stars on Saturday afternoon.
MATCH FACTS
- Bibiani Gold Stars have won four of their last five home matches this season (W4, D0, L1).
- The Golden Boys have scored a total of seven (7) goals in their last 5 home matches and conceded 2.
- Gold Stars have scored 12 goals in their last 11 league matches and conceded 13.
- Gold Stars have won 4 out of 11 league matches this season, with all 4 wins recorded in home matches.
- Accra Hearts of Oak have won just 3 of the 9 league games they have played this season (W3, D5, L1).
- Hearts of Oak have played four (4) away matches so far this season (W1, D2, L1)
- The Phobians have scored 9 goals in 9 games this season and have conceded 6 overall.
HEAD TO HEAD
Since its formation in 1998, Bibiani Gold Stars have met Accra Hearts of Oak just once, which was in the Ghana FA Cup competition. Their first encounter was during the 2014 season. The game played on December 21, 2014, Hearts of Oak suffered a Round of 64 elimination from the FA Cup after Paul Acquah’s lone strike proved inadequate for the Phobians, following a brace from Elvis Opoku for Gold Stars which ended any hopes for the Phobians.
On this day, Saturday January 8, 2022, the two sides come to face off for the first time ever in the Ghanaian top flight at the Dun’s Park. While Hearts of Oak will look forward to redeeming themselves by revenging that humiliating FA Cup competition exit in the hands of the ‘Gye Nyame’ lads, coach Michael Osei’s side are expected to prove tough as they seek to maintain their record against their seniors in the history of Ghana football.
MATCH INFORMATION
League Match Week 12
Date: Saturday, 8th January, 2022
Time: 3:00pm
Venue: Dun’s Park, Bibiani.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Joseph Kenny Padi
Assistant 1: Stephen Balanguena
Assistant 2: Alex Osam
Fourth Referee: Rustum Senorgbe
Match Commissioner: Charles Darkwa