Ghana Premier League (GPL) side Aduana Stars have all but slowed the acceleration on the possibility of winning the 2021/2022 GPL title, directing its focus mostly to the MTN FA Cup title ahead of the likes of holders Accra Hearts of Oak, Dreams FC and Bechem United.
Aduana Stars, two times champions of the GPL, were countered as among the contenders for the league title this season following a great start in the season, but had their performance taken a nose dive following a historic 2-0 home defeat to their traditional rivals, Asante Kotoko.
The Ogya lads have struggled to pick up the pieces since that defeat, and has since found it difficult to maintain a place in the second position or even go close to dislodging Asante Kotoko form the summit of the league log. There are seven matches to play to drop the curtains on the league season, and they sit 5th in the league log with 40 points, trailing the leaders by 15 points.
In an interaction with ghanasportspage.com, Evans Oppong, Communications Director of the club has been asked of his take on the club’s chances of winning the league this season, and he directs the focus more to the FA Cup. He explains, that the club has won every trophy there is to be won on the domestic level with the exception of the FA Cup title, and with the league title almost out of their hands, Aduana Stars is more focused on the FA Cup instead.
“Our main target has been shifted to the FA Cup because we can see that it’s left with just one match to the final and we are two wins away from winning the FA Cup”, Evans told ghanasportspage.com.
He continued, “Truth is that in our football career as Aduana Stars FC, we have won every trophy in Ghana here apart from the MTN FA Cup. We’ve won G6 when we beat Hearts of Oak on penalties in the finals, we’ve won Super Cup when we beat [Asante] Kotoko at the Obuasi Len Clay stadium courtesy Bright Adjei’s wonderful goal.
“Apart from that we’ve won the league two times in Ghana football, so virtually apart from the FA Cup which we’ve not been able to win some, we’ve won every trophy here in Ghana, and this year we’ve realised that when we backup a little we can win the FA Cup”.
“So the team’s focus has shifted from the league and more towards the FA Cup, but hey, due to the uncertainties in football, we won’t give up on the league, we will continue to play and see what will come out of it”, he concluded.
Aduana Stars are in the semi finals of the FA Cup competition, and will face regional rivals Bechem United to compete for a place in the final. On the other side of the coin, defending champions Accra Hearts of Oak will also face Dreams FC in the other semi final game.
