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Asante Kotoko will play host to Hearts of Oak on Sunday in the first Super Clash of 2021. Three important points will be at stake at the Accra Sports stadium in what is a standout fixture in the Ghana Premier League.
For Asante Kotoko, the focus of their ambitions this season has shifted to the league title after their exit from Africa.
But for Hearts of Oak, it’s all about redemption as they try to save their season with a convincing victory against their arch rivals.
All season, Hearts have been in the shadows of Kotoko in terms of the league table, and a big win in Accra will give a bunch of confidence to the Phobians.
The Super Clash is always an intense match, and the encounter on Sunday will be no different. Some stars will shine, some will falter, and a new chapter will be added to the legacy of the Ghanaian classic.
The recent turmoil in the camp of Hearts has added extra pressure on the players to perform especially under interim coach Samuel Nii Noi.
With such a huge game merely just a few days away, here are are three reasons why Hearts of Oak need all three points against Asante Kotoko.
To win back the fans
If the players are the engine of a team, then the fans are the fuel for the engine. Although Sunday’s Super Clash will be played without fans, hundreds of thousands of eyes will be watching digitally.
Fans of Hearts of Oak have been left frustrated in the past 10 years with the club failing to reach the heights of the early 2000s.
The last major title the Phobians won was in 2009 when they hoisted the league trophy.
Since then, the decline has been at a steady rate with the club employing over 20 coaches in that period under the stewardship of Togbe Afede.
The tolerance of fans reached its peak when the club lost head coach Kosta Papic, assistant coach Asare Bediako and goalkeeper’s trainer Ben Owu in the space of a week.
Consequently, hundreds of fans trooped onto the grounds of the club’s secretariat and locked up the office in protest.
There was unrest amongst fans who wanted more transparency in the affairs of the board and a clear technical path for the club.
Those demands are rather long-term, however, the club could go a long way in appeasing the fans by beating rivals Kotoko convincingly.
To save title ambitions
As things stand, Hearts are five points behind league leaders Karela United who have been impeccable so far.
The Phobians have played a game less and the outstanding fixture comes in the form of the Super Clash.
Meaning Hearts could kill two birds with a victory on Sunday; first by closing the gap between themselves and the top, and then cripple Kotoko’s ambitions of going top.
A double whammy which would be largely appreciated by the Hearts fraternity.
It’s been 11 seasons since the Accra-based club won the league and with the club celebrating its 109th birthday right before the start of the season, fans are expecting an end to the drought.
The title ambitions of Hearts each season has never been hidden and this season is no different.
The focus remains the same and with more than half of the season played, victory against their biggest rivals on Sunday could spark a title charge.
Bragging rights
These two sides share 43 Premier League titles between them and have both won the most championships with Kotoko edging it with 23.
Ask both which match they look forward to the most in the calendar year and they’ll point fingers at each other.
It is the most anticipated fixture for a reason. Both teams leave nothing to chance and eagerly battle it out till the final whistle.
A rivalry that dates back to the 1900s goes beyond the 22 men on the pitch as it represents a clash between Greater Accra and Ashanti regions to determine who the best is.
Overall, since 1958 these two rivals have met 106 times with the pair winning 35 each.
In the previous nine times that both sides have faced each other in Accra, the Phobians have only won once.
It’s almost reached a point of acceptance for Hearts not to beat Kotoko in Accra.
However, in the last 10 occasions that these two sides have met in Kumasi, the Phobians have won five times.
Clearly, the psychology plays into both sides winning on the grounds of their rival.
Interestingly, although the Porcupine Warriors are playing at home, they’ll still be in Accra because they have adopted the Accra Sports stadium.
Hence, presenting a good opportunity for the 20-time Premier League champions to break their curse in Accra and beat Kotoko convincingly.
