The long starvation for football in Ghana is finally over as the 2020/2021 football season commences tomorrow, Saturday, November 14, 2020 with a blockbuster clash between Aduana Stars and Accra Hearts of Oak at the Dormaa Nana Agyemang Badu II park.
The daring Phobians have arrived in Dormaa with great hopes of returning with at least a point, drawing inspiration from the truncated 2019/2020 season result, where they held the “Ogya Boys” to goalless draw. It promises to be a sensational clash between Hearts of Oak’s coach Edward Nii Odoom and Aduana Stars Samuel Paa Kwasi Fabin as the two seek to prove their superiority over each other.
TEAM NEWS
ADUANA STARS
Host and title holders Aduana Stars are sweating on the fitness of star and leading striker Yahaya Mohammed after he piked up knock at his knee during the club’s last preseason friendly match against second tier side Nkoranza Warriors last Sunday. Yahaya missed training from Monday to Thursday November 12, but returned to the group on Friday where he trained for just 30 minutes. The former OGC Nice striker bagged 11 goals for Aduana Stars in the previous season’s league, and is fighting harder to be fit for the unmissable season opener against Accra Hearts of Oak.
Goalkeeper Joseph Addo shook off malaria attack to return to training on Thursday after missing three sessions, set for late fitness test on Friday. Influential winger Samuel Bio returned to full training on Thursday after missing three sessions due to knock he picked against Nkoranza Warriors last Sunday. Sam Adams has returned to the Aduana Stars set up for the first time in 10 months since he left the club for Asante Kotoko in December 2019.
Should goalkeeper Joseph Addo fail to be fit for the game, coach Paa Kwasi Fabin will have to rely on Mantey for the post, or unlikely, Masawudu. Coach Paa Kwasi Fabin called up 20 players to camp on Wednesday to begin preparations ahead of the crucial game, but will settle on 18 after all fitness issues are settled.
Tickets for the match are selling at GHC15, GHC20 and GHC30, confirmed by the club.
ACCRA HEARTS OF OAK
Hearts of Oak, 20 times winners of the Ghana Premier League (GPL), last in 2008/2009 season, have arrived in Dormaa with lots of confidence as a new era begins for their quest to bring the long awaited 21st League title home.
Star striker Abednego Tetteh did not travel with the team to Dormaa for medical reasons. The former Bechem United forward recently tested positive for covid-19 and has since been asked to self-isolate. A second test on him proved negative but his situation is being monitored and has been ruled out of the game. Returnee Patrick Razak made the team, along with midfielder general, Emmanuel Nettey among others.
FORM GUIDE (ADUANA STARS)
Aduana Stars started their preseason friendlies on a brighter note, but ended on the descending curve. Coach Paa Kwasi Fabin’s side played a total of five (5) preseason friendly matches, winning the first three (3) and lost the last two. Check the preseason results below:
Aduana Stars 2-1 Dormaa Unity FC
Aduana Stars 5-2 Wamanafo Mighty Royals
Aduana Stars 3-2 Nsuatreman FC
Aduana Stars 0-2 Wamanafo Might Royals
Nkoranza Warriors 2-1 Aduana Stars
FORM GUIDE (ACCRA HEARTS OF OAK)
Accra Hearts of Oak had a better preseason comparatively. Coach Edward Odoom’s side played five (5) friendly matches where they won three (3) and drew two (2). They scored 14 goals in the process and conceded 4. Below are the results of Hearts of Oak’s preseason matches:
Hearts of Oak 4-0 Scientific Soccer Academy
Hearts of Oak 6-1 Lagos Town United
Hearts of Oak 1-1 Ebusua Dwarfs
Hearts of Oak 2-2 Proud United
Hearts of Oak 1-0 Elmina Sharks
HEAD TO HEAD STATISTICS
The two teams have met for a total of 17 times in the GPL with Hearts of Oak edging the statistics with five (5) wins, while Aduana stars have recorded three (3) wins and the remaining nine (9) have ended in a draw.
Hearts of Oak have won two times at Dormaa out of their overall 5 wins over the “Ogya Boys”, and look forward to doing same tomorrow. In all, Hearts of Oak have put 14 goals in the net of Aduana Stars and have received 13 in return.
The last time the two sides met last season in Dormaa, the game ended goalless.
MATCH INFORMATION
The big game has been scheduled to kick on on Saturday, November 14, 2020 at the NAB II park in Dormaa at 15:00 GMT. It will be telecast live on StarTimes Adepa Channel.
