New Premier League Season: Journalists shares their expectation and excitement.

After several months of Chaos, mayhem, uncertainties, loss of trust and passion for our local football, the sport is coming back this weekend. The 2019/2020 Ghana Premier League kicks off this weekend at various league centers with some exciting fixtures.

The dust is settled. A new FA President (The Game Changer) is at the helm of affairs after the Normalization Committee finally brought to an end their turbulent and goofy tenure. The transition period of the new administration in charge for football in the country is in full flight and is looking to restore the glory days and passion for amongst football loving fans. It is for this reason that #BringBackTheLove mantra has been trending and spotted everywhere amongst the football fraternity. Congress decided to increase the number of Clubs from 16 to 18 amidst a few raised eyebrows. Alhaji Grunsah’s King Fiasal and Accra Great Olympics, the Wonder Club benefitted from this decision and will have a chance bring some excitement into the league.

Ahead of the week 1 games I spoke with a number of journalists across the country to find out how they have been gearing up for the commencement of football. Sports Journalists, just like the fans have been starved of the beautiful game and would be definitely beaming with smiles and eagerly awaiting to troop to match venues to do what they love best.

The likes of Citi FM’s Fentuo Tahiru, Muftawu Nabila of Kwese, James Sowah of the GHPLLive, Nuhu Adams of Ghanasoccernet, Sheikh Tophic, Editor of Football Made in Ghana, Benedict Owusu of Multimedia all spoke of their expectations of the big, big season ahead. Here, they tell us what they think of the season, whom their top two clubs are come end of the campaign, top scorer, player(s) to watch et al in what promises to be a memorable season.

Benedict Owusu

“I expect nothing but the best this season. New season under a new administration and after the promises and the innovations I think we should brace ourselves for a wonderful season.

Per what I have seen in the last year – post Anas and Normalization with the Special Competition, I think Kotoko remain a big force and favorites to win the league. The most competitive side in the last year by virtue of their involvement in Africa. I think Ashgold will also do well and we should watch out for the Miners. Hearts of Oak I am not too sure about them but there is some positivity around the team and I think we cannot rule them out as well.

Best player – Justice Blay, Asante Kotoko. If he is consistent and remains fit he will be great for the Porcupine Warriors.

Top Scorer – Joseph Esso, Hearts of Oak

Discovery of the season – Marin Anim Cudjoe, Asante Kotoko. If the teenage prodigy is going to get enough game time then he could be a discovery of the season.”

Muftawu Nabila

“Everyone has been longing for football to return, and I must say I personally have been yearning for the return of football. It is a product and competition I have sorely missed and I am excited it is finally kicking off this weekend. I’m looking forward to an exciting and competitive season. 18 club competition means 4 more matches to cover and see the quality of our competition. However, I have a bit of reservation about the number of clubs as I feel the quality of the competition could be diluted. But I’m hoping to be served with a hot humble pie by the decision of congress to increase the number of clubs to 18.

I will be looking at clubs like Medeama and Kumasi Asante Kotoko as my top 2 for the campaign. I know a lot of people have high hopes and expectations for Hearts of Oak because of their off season form and performances and the good works of Kim Grant, I don’t think they are ready to win the league yet.  I think Karela United can still be the surprising team and could sneak into the top 4 depending on what they do.

Best Player – I think I have a pool of players to choose from as I expect big season from them. Asante Kotoko’s Maxwell Baakoh and Justice Blay as well as Hearts of Oak duo of Umar Manaf and Benjamin Afutu.

Discovery of the season - There are some young lads I have personally seen from Liberty Pros who can spring up surprises. Issaka and Wayo are their names, and they’re super talented. If they’re given enough chance and freedom in matches they’ll be handful for a lot of teams during the season. Young Kwabena Kyeremanteng of Inter Allies should also be watched out for. However, the young Cudjoe from Kotoko would have the league come a bit too early for him as I feel the competition would be above his quality.

Top scorer – Joseph Esso”

Fentuo Tahiru

“This should be a very exciting season on many levels and I expect to be very long as well because of the inclusion of 2 more clubs, King Faisal and Great Olympics to make it 18 teams.

In terms of favorites to win this league, I tip Ashgold because they are a side that has the core coming from last season, they were in impressive form, and their manager has now gained the necessary experience in the local front to propel the team to a league title. He did well with Ebusua Dwarfs and he almost sneaked into the group stages of the CAFCC, they won the 2nd teir of the NC Special competition and I feel they’re a very interesting proposition. I also expect Medeama to be strong and do well once again. Their head coach Samuel Boadu is one of the most exciting young coaches on the local front. Kotoko will also be in the midst even though I don’t think Maxwell Konadu will be working in the most ideal condition but I still expect them to be in the top 4. Accra Hearts of Oak strangely I think are going to struggle. The team’s momentum seemed to have waned a little in the last few months. They were in a good place before the start of the NC Special Competition and they did well but since then a lot has happened in the club with uncertainty about some of their top players, Joseph Esso especially isn’t helping. I don’t expect King Fiasal to make a big impact, neither do I expect Gt. Olympics to make any meaningful impact. Dwarfs are primed for relegation as the club has lost focus suddenly. Karela United would have been my club to pick if not for what has happened to them in the last few months with their owner passing on and the departures of a few high profile players but I still expect them to do well.

Top scorer - Shafiu Mumuni. I expect the Miner’s attacker to continue his fine form infront of goal and also excite fans. Possibly he is my tip for player of the season. Appiah McCarthy of Ashgold could be the discovery of the season.”

Sheikh Tophic

“I think the upcoming Ghana Premier League will be one of the best and exciting the nation has seen considering the fact that it is going to be an 18 club league for the first time with King Faisal and Gt. Olympics coming back. These are two top sides that have history with the Ghana League and their return would obviously ignite some passion, and memories would be brought back in fixtures like Hearts v Olympics, Kotoko v King Faisal etc.

Top 2 of the season – I boldly will pick Ashgold and Medeama . These two sides have good materials, god coaches, have kept core of their players for a while and are very strong. The Miners have a blend of experience quality with the likes of Shafiu Mumuni, Appiah McCarthy, Latif Anabila all played in Africa a few months ago. For Medeama they have Samuel Boadu who has been with them for a couple of seasons now when they were top of the table before the Anas expose. However, I won’t be surprised to see WAFA, Hearts of Oak, Asante Kotoko and Dreams FC especially fight to claim the remaining spots at the top. These are sides that I feel have the capabilities to have decent seasons. Hearts didn’t particularly fare too well against Kotoko in the President’s Cup in Kumasi so expectations are being beaten down a bit but Kim Grant is still in charge and if they can resolve the contractual issues with their experienced players, they should be fine.

For discovery of the season, I think it is a tough one to ask but Asante Kotoko has already given us one to talk about. Teenage Martin Cudjoe will definitely attract a bit of attention and it remains to be seen if he can ride on some fame to give us glimpses of quality and exciting performances. Kwame Otoo and Faj Suleman of Dreams FC also have the potential to be in that bracket and I have personally seen them play. They are exciting I must say and they must be watched. King Faisal and Gt. Olympics are very likely to return back to the second teir as they have struggled to add quality into their ranks to match the premier league. 34 games would be too much for them.”

Abigail Sena Sosu

“Basically this is a very anticipated season, after the long recess and a lot of changes so there’s a lot of anxiety and expectations going into the 2019/2020 Ghana Premier League season. Most of the clubs however, have had their acts together with Asante Kotoko notably being the most active given their exploits in Africa Club competitions. Ashgold also aren’t too far behind and they are one of those sides that can give us what we look out for, but Accra Hearts of Oak have also said that this is their season and year, and having maintained Grant for close to 3 years now they believe that they can do something this season and end that decade long trophy drought for the club.

So generally i am expecting a good season with good games. Take a look at Gt. Olympics with the blend of youth and old but experienced players and I’m expecting these old guys who have come back to relaunch their careers will still give us some quality in the league.

I am expecting good football, great goals and i am also looking forward to a few names coming up in the Liberty Professionals set up. I’ve seen them train and I expect them to give us something to excite the league. Godfred (Akoto) have said that they’re going to win the league but let’s see how that pans out. 

I’m sure we’ll see lots of end to end actions in most of the games, and I am certain whoever comes top at the end of the season will be a worthy winner.”

Felix Romark

I am so excited that the new season is just about to begin. 18 teams, 306 games and I am very sure it’s going to be very good season. I am particularly happy to see teams like King Faisal and Accra Great Olympics back into the league.

If I am to pick my top 2 sides, I think Asante Kotoko were very consistent even when the league was in recess, playing in African games and competitions, playing a lot of games and they also went all out in the NC Special competition which they won be defeating Karela United in the in Kumasi. So I expect them to continue from where they left off, and also a good win against Hearts (in the President’s Cup) could also be a huge boost for them for the season.

I think Ashgold can come second. I feel they have a very good and young team that have been together for some time and they play very good football and are competitive.

I won’t put Hearts of Oak in the top 2. I think Kim Grant is still working on the team, he still has a lot of decisions to make to them back up there. A team like Karela United I feel would struggle a lot, one for the fact that they have changed their home venue for this season from Ainyinase to Tarkwa. I feel this could affect their home form, knowing how they made their former home grounds a fortress. Also, they have sold a lot of their first team regulars with a couple joining giants Asante Kotoko.

Players to watch – I have two players in mind. Asante Kotoko’s Justice Blay I expect to have a very good season. Hearts of Oak’s Umar Manaf I want to see how well he would in a full season.

Top scorer should be between Joseph Esso of Hearts of Oak and Sognge Yacouba but I think the Kotoko striker can edge it due to the fact that the Porcupine Warriors have a lot of creative players in their setup who will create a lot of chances for them

I don’t want to pinpoint relegation candidates but I feel Ebusua Dwarfs may just be playing their last season the top flight for the foreseeable future. Great Olympics could also fall back to the second teir as well as Wa All Stars who’s luck may just be about to run out.

Whatever these journalists and pundits have said, fans would want to have their own opinions and expectations. One thing remain certain. The league kicks off this weekend and Football is back in the nation. There are some interesting and mouth-watering clashes in the first week’s fixtures. In Accra, Hearts of Oak host Berekum Chelsea in a game the Phobians would look to start on a good note. Former Champions Aduana play Iinter Allies, while at the Baba Yara Stadium NC Special competition first tier winners

Asante Kotoko welcome Eleven Wonders. In Obuasi, Asgold host returnees Gt. Olympics while Bechem Utd face off with Elmina Sharks.

Dreams FC will also be looking for a bright start to the campaign when they invite King Faisal to the Dawu Park. Cape Coast stadium will see Ebusua Dwarfs play Medeama SC as Karela Utd will begin the season at their new home in Tarkwa against WAFA.

In Dansoman, Liberty Pros will engage Wa All Stars in the final game of the fixture list.

By: Kofi Esikyire /  GHPLLive