The Ghana Football Association (GFA) wanted the love back. Eleven round of matches into the season, it seems everyone is fully on board that train. It is not often that hype matches the reality but the Ghana Premier League has in lived up to the well curated hype.
The twist and turns has got everyone at the edge of their seat. Games are no more predictable which is why teams are winning away a lot and also why there is no one dominant team in the season at the moment.
Every goal that has been served every match week comes with a pinch of delight; Victorien Adebayor’s run, cut back and finish at Berekum Chelsea, some cracking long range shots and free kicks back this up. The coaches have had their fair share of blames and disappointment.
The goals have flowed and the ration of 208 goals in 99 games, more than two per game proves that. So one may be tempted to think the teams are swimming in a pool of victories but that’s not the story. Four teams have managed six wins out of the eleven games but there has been no one outstanding team even if AshantiGold’s strong defensive unit which has helped them nine clean sheets top spot in the league.
This season when you hear goals, it inevitably means Victorien Adebayor is in the conversation. The Nigerien has everyone salivating for more goals because he scores some remarkable ones. His goal against Berekum Chelsea in particular was trending for days. The striker was a bowling ball who hit all the pins in the defense of Berekum Chelsea. His two goals that day are part of the 11 he has scored in ten appearances. He has set up another four and is top of the goal king chart and joint on the assist list.
Adebayor reckons not many defenders can stop him. ‘’I just observe my markers to know their movements and then come up with how to outwit them, from the games played so far, I’m yet to meet a tough opposition,’’ he told GPL Xpress.
Right on his heels is Aduana’s Yahaya Mohammed who has scored 10 goals. The style he brings to the league and his drive to conquer games to gain points for his team has left many mouths agape. On match week 10, his rival, Adebayor scored two goals to lead the goal king chart but Yahaya Mohammed had plans. He managed to score two goals too be at par with Adebayor and set up a fascinating goal king race. He says he is absolutely loving the competition.
Sitting uncomfortably at the bottom of the league is King Faisal. After match week 11, they are the only side without a win but that has not stopped their star player, Osman Ibrahim from hitting 7 goals and bagging 3 assists. He desperately wants a win.
‘’ Because we are not winning matches, the moral in the camp is too slow and we are worried, we score goals in every match yet we keep conceding, we have conceded 23 goals and scored 13, it is not easy,’’
The young stars in the league are shining brightly with Bechem United’s 16 year old, Prince Adu Kwabena leading the pack. He has played in nine matches has hit the back of the net eight times. He hopes to win the goal king by the end of the season.
‘’My aspiration is to win the goal king for Bechem United this season because a player from Bechem United always wins that award’’
Matthew Cudjoe’s name is on the lips of everyone, the 16 year old spectacular performance in Kotoko’s game against Hearts brought him a lot of recognition. At the end of the game, the fans showed him appreciation in cash. At Medeama Nana Kofi Babil who is just 18 has delivered five goals.
One loss does not put you top of the league and this is the case of WAFA. They are the team with the least number of losses, one. Yet, they are eighth on the table because they are the side who have drawn the most, seven.
The most assists is held jointly by three players and Adebayor’s name will shine in this article again. The playmakers have four assists.
When the premier league returns on March 1 these numbers would almost certainly get better. And we hope alongside the quality of games and goals.
By Sakyibea Ofori
The writer is an intern at TV3