President Cup - Statistical Preview Of Hearts Of Oak vs Asante Kotoko

Writer: Amoah Kofi    

Twitter: @Milikykophy                     

 

 

Rivals, Kotoko and Hearts renew hostilities on Wednesday, July 1 for President Cup

 

The cliffhanger, a match fit for the gods and other enormous headlines that spring up when these two sides meet, will once again be resurrected as they battle each other to redeem their uninspiring performance in the domestic topflight league. 

 

The rivalry will be rekindled on Wednesday July 1, 2015 as the two most successful clubs in Ghana football lock horns for the country's 55th Republic Day at the 'Nations Wembley' in the capital of Ghana, Accra. The President Cup was instituted by former head of state, John Kuffour to honor the sitting president on the first day of July annually.

 

There is everything to play for especially when Hearts and Kotoko meet. The clash of these two sides only aggravate old wounds as it goes beyond normal 90mins football on the pitch. There are arguments before,during and after the match and sometimes continue for days in the media. Players and officials pinned to the receiving end in shrouded  bribery allegations when one suffers defeat often than not. Coaches lose their jobs and some disturbed fans losing their lives in the extremity, summarize how passionate and serious these clashes are. The unpredictability of matches between these sides sometimes makes it even more interesting. They most a time travel to win at each other's favorable home ground. That’s something intriguing and quite funny. Form guide on the other hand, from both sides has never been something dependable to predict the outcome of matches involving these two sides.

 

Continental club masters, Hearts of Oak, will have all the bragging rights going into Wednesday's match as they have already defeated the porcupine warriors, Asante Kotoko in the league early in the season at the Baba Yara stadium by a goal to nil, courtesy Selasi Adjei and winning the last two cup finals between them, a Confederation Cup in 2004 and a Novelty League in 2005. Hearts will once again be hoping to generate a cacophonic mood amongst the Kotoko supporters after Wednesday's clash as they did earlier this season. 

 

They go into the match as the defending champions after defeating Medeama SC in 2013. Two goals from Mahatma Otoo were enough to help them lift the presidential trophy. Asante Kotoko this time around will be hoping they are third time lucky to end their presidential cup hoodoo as they have lost twice in succession. In 2011, they lost to Berekum Chelsea after a 2-2 draw (Alex Asamoah and Fatau Mohammed scored for Kotoko whiles Gladson Awako and Bismark Idan equalized for Chelsea) in regulation time and eventually lost 8-7 on penalties. We famously remember this when Chelsea's penalty kicks were retaken several times which stirred an ire mood amongst Kotoko officials, who eventually abandoned their losing medals as the then vice president, John Dramani Mahama presented the trophy to Chelsea. 

 

In 2012, they lost to the same side by 2-1 after Kofi Nti Boakye had scored in the first half. Edward Kpodo equalised for Chelsea whiles Gladson Awako finished it with a pile driver to beat Soulama Abdoulai in the 73rd min. The porcupine warriors will wish for a repeated feat as the last two meetings in Accra against Hearts have ended pretty well for them. A preseason dress-rehearsal match, ended one all and one nil victory for Kotoko in the league in 2014 courtesy Seidu Bancey.

 

Both Clubs have been unimpressive in this season's league campaign with a vacillating results from both sides as Hearts have won just one game in their last five matches, losing one and drawing three (3D, 1L, 1W) whiles Kotoko have won two, drawn none and lost three (2W, 3L). But Hearts are unbeaten in their last five matches at home,three wins and two draws (3W, 2D) scoring six and conceding two whiles Kotoko's last five matches away have seen two wins, two losses and a draw (2W, 2L, 1D) scoring 10 and conceding 11.

The days of Herbert Addo are numerically numbered as the man is vastly under pressure to keep things going on well for the phobians. Both coaches will be meeting their former employers and will be hoping things churn out in their favour. It promises to be fire works as both clubs have their image are on the line. 

Your guess will be as good as mine as both clubs battle it out during Wednesday's SuperClash.