Ghana Premier League Match Day 1 Preview: Accra Lions, RTU, Gold Stars eye first win As Hearts Of Oak, Kotoko And Aduana Out To Stun Opponents

The new GPL season will start as scheduled on Friday, 29th of October, at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra with Reigning Champions Hearts of Oak set to bounce back from their short-lived CAF Champions League journey, following their early exit as they host Legon Cities on Sunday in the third fixture of Match-Day 1.

The 2021/22 season promises to be electrifying with some surprises and unexpected results set to be recorded and we can expect more of that as the excitement will pick up from Friday.

And the thrill will continue into Sunday’s encounter between Real Tamale United who just got promoted after a torrid campaign in Division One and ‘terror like Great Olympics at Tamale, Obed Nana Nketiah’s Berekum Chelsea will be in the hunt for their first victory against PL returnees Gold Stars who will be hoping to earn a point or score a goal in their first PL outing and King Faisal will also be eyeing the first victory as they host WAFA at the Baba Yara Stadium

Elsewhere on Sunday, Eleven Wonders will zest handing Ashanti Gold their first loss of the season at Techiman, Karela’s lads’ will look for the advantage at home against Aduana, Bechem United will seek to keep their home invincibility intact this season against Medeama and Asante Kotoko will attempt to pick their first victory of the season at the expense of Dreams FC.

Big questions on the matchday; can Hearts grab all three points or will they settle for a loss or draw, can Aduana, Olympics, and the Porcupine Warriors get their first victory, and will the entry of newly promoted Accra Lions, Gold Stars, and RTU succeed in pulling a surprise and lighting up some fire?

Accra Lions v Elmina Sharks – Accra

Having been promoted into the top tier league, after becoming champions in the Ghana Division One 2020/2021 Zone Three. Lions scored the most goals (57 goals in 28 matches) and the club’s striker Rauf Salifu ended up as the top scorer in last season’s DOL with 21 goals.

Lions will be shooting for the maximum points when they wrestle Elmina Sharks at the Accra Sports Stadium to bring their title ‘winning streak’ into the PL.

The Fearsome Sharks will have to build on their PL against Accra Lions to grab a point or perhaps a win against Rainer Kraft boys in front of the Ghanaian capital town folks in order to go back to Elmina with a sweet victory.

Nevertheless, Lions is very likely to chalk success on Friday due to the fact that their opponent away record was nothing to write home about last season.

RTU v Great Olympics – Tamale

The Northern lads can become the first to beat Great Olympics with a home win over the PL desperados at the Tamale Stadium on Sunday.

There is not much history between these two as Sunday will be a game to behold in the top-flight.

However, Olympics are huge favorites considering their impregnable record last season.

Gold Stars v Berekum Chelsea

Gold Stars will be shooting for the maximum points when they wrestle Berekum Chelsea at Dunn’s Park to keep their hopes to stay in the top flight alive.

Berekum Chelsea will have to build on last season’s feat against Gold Stars to grab a point or perhaps a win against the Gye Nyame boys in front of their home fans in order to kickstart the PL on a good note.

Hearts of Oak v Legon Cities – Accra

Having been kicked out of CAF Champions League by Wydad Athletic, Reigning champions – Hearts of Oak – will be hoping to annex the title again this season.

The Phobians have had a blistering time last season and will be hoping to heap more misery on Cities and perhaps render experienced manager Maxwell Konadu tactically bankrupt

Cities were written off last season due to a frustrating managerial lapse with fans now tipping them to end their difficulties in the top tier and go ahead to contend for the league title this season.

Personally, my money is on Hearts to win this one but expect a good game, and may the best team win.

King Faisal v WAFA – Kumasi

.King Faisal will be hoping to make amends for their usual first day’s slump with a comprehensive win over WAFA at home on Matchday 1 while the Academy boys will be out to stun the Insha Allah Boys at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday.

Both teams will be aspiring for victory and the side that gives its all will certainly leave Kumasi beaming with smiles.

The record in games involving these two sides – WAFA as favorites. The Astroturf experts who finished third last season have the upper hand but must be wary of Faisal who is privileged to have a winger like Frank Sarfo Gyamfi who is capable of firing and scoring from all angles.

Eleven Wonders v AshantiGold – Techiman

Wonders will be rooting for the maximum points when they wrestle AshGold at the Ohene Ameyaw Stadium.

Ashgold is very likely to chalk success on Sunday to keep their hopes for a title this season alive.

Bechem United v Medeama – Bechem

Bechem will look forward to a victory in front of their home fans over the Mauve and Yellow at Bechem Park.

Both will face off having served similar fortunes on matchday 1.

It’s never going to be the friendliest atmosphere at Bechem Park as both will relish claiming the maximum points.

Karela United v Aduana – Anyinase

Karela, the pride of Anyinase, will seek to continue from where they left off the last term when they host Aduana at the Crosby Awuah Memorial Park.

Karela must show a double dose character they showed last season against Aduana who are in dear need of away points to move up the log this time or stay with the strollers in the middle.

Aduana Stars will be anxiously looking forward to recording their first win of the season as guests of the Westerners.

Karela on the other hand head into the game with victory on their minds and will be in a revengeful mood to take all 3 points at home.

The hosts must stay awake with both eyes wide open for the full 90 minutes against the Dormaa outfit whose tactical plan for the match will be nothing short of a win or a draw.

Dreams FC v Kotoko – Accra

A battle between two teams faced with goal-scoring issues last season.

Dreams will be hoping to create decent scoring chances upfront and cash it in at the Accra Sports Stadium.

However, Coach Prosper Ogum has received the backing of management to change the fortunes of the club. This means he and his men must start winning from Saturday against a formidable Still Believe side.

The Porcupines will be keen on appeasing their fans after a shambolic pre-season campaign and also get their winning streak back on track which certainly makes it a blazing contest to look forward to.

Kotoko has been boosted by the signing of fourteen new players and can hope that their inclusion yields positive results.

Kotoko is indeed Dreams bogeyman, as it’s never going to be the friendliest atmosphere at the Accra Sports stadium as both will relish claiming all three points.