Playing against a club which needs points badly to win a league that has eluded it for 12-years will not come easy. Likewise traveling as guest of a club which is struggling to get away from relegation is equally a tall mountain to climb. These two pieces of introduction open the door to the discussion of the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League match day 32 between home side, Ebusua Dwarfs and league leaders, Hearts of Oak at the Cape Coast Stadium.
Accra Hearts of Oak have been rejuvenated since the arrival of coach Samuel Boadu. The 35-year-old tactician joined the Phobians from fellow Premier League side, Medeama in a 3-year deal. Under Samuel Boadu’s tutelage, the Phobians have recorded 10-matches without a single defeat. Their 10th league win came against bitter rivals, Asante Kotoko where Daniel Afriyie Barnieh’s only strike shocked the Porcupine Warriors at the Accra Sports Stadium in match day 31. The Phobians, who have won the Ghana Premier League for 20 times, currently lead the league table with 59 points from 31 games.
However, the league title has eluded Hearts for 12-years after claiming their last title in 2009. As a club which has a CAF Champions League, Confederation Cup and Super Cup in their wardrobe, it is interesting to know that they have missed out on the league title for over a decade. The closest they came to a title was in 2017 when rivals, Kotoko thumped them 3-1 in the finals of the MTN FA Cup at the Tamale Sports Stadium. Interestingly Hearts of Oak are the record FA Cup holders with 10 titles and many thought with their rich experience and a plethora of key players, they would beat Kotoko.
There are three matches to end the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League season and the millennium champions need points badly to claim their first title in 12-years. They travel as guest of Dwarfs at the Cape Coast Stadium for match day 32 on Sunday, July 4 at 6:00pm. It will be feather in Coach Samuel Boadu’s tea cup if he secures all three points from Cape Coast to keep the three points difference between them and Kotoko that is if Kotoko win their next game. As Samuel Boadu eyes all three points in all three remaining games, he will have an eye in Kotoko’s games as well. However beating Dwarfs will not come easy at the Cape Coast Stadium.
Dwarfs on the other hand are struggling and fighting to escape relegation and that is what will make the task difficult for Hearts of Oak. The Crabs earlier this month parted ways with Coach Ernest Thompson, following strings of poor performances in the league. Thompson’s place has since been taken by former Ghana Black Queens coach, James Kuuku Dadzie. Kuuku Dadzie has since won two straight games to shift Dwarfs a bit away from relegation battle but are not completely safe. Dwarfs’ last two wins have come against relegated Inter Allies and Karela United FC. They pipped Allies 1-0 at home in match day 30 before whitewashing Karela United FC 4-1 at Anyinase in match day 31. They currently sit 12th on the league table with 37 points from 31 matches. What makes them unsafe is that, the points difference between them and the clubs beneath are not huge. They are on same points as Berekum Chelsea and just a point better than Eleven Wonders and King Faisal. They have just two points better than Liberty Professionals and Elmina Sharks with relegated Inter Allies having 26 points.
The situation makes it dicey for both Hearts of Oak and Ebusua Dwarfs. Both clubs need points for a course with Hearts of Oak needing it badly to win the title for the first time in 12 years. Dwarfs will want to keep their fans to premier league football as they also need points to stay in the top flight. Until the game is cleared, it remains a tough test for both clubs going into match day 32.
