Ghana Premier League Week 8 fixtures, preview, kick-off times, dates

Round 8 of the Ghana Premier League will kick off on Friday afternoon at Bechem with Nations FC travelling from Abrankese to face Bechem United at Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park. Bechem United have recorded just one win, two draws and four defeats in the seven games they have played throughout the whole season. The results are not encouraging and will need the three points against the struggling Nations FC. Frimpong Manso, the winner of last season’s league title with Bibiani Gold Stars, will make his debut after Ocansey Mingle was sacked as the head coach of Nations. Nations have recorded two wins, which is not encouraging, per their standard. A trip to Bechem is the ultimate test for Frimpong Manso and his charges.

Hohoe United will host Medeama, league leaders, at the Hohoe Sports Stadium. The Yellow and Mauve won 2-0 at Young Apostles and lost 1-0 at Karela in the two away games thus far. Their credentials as title challengers will be genuine if they can win more points away from home. Hohoe United, on the other hand, lost to Aduana at Hohoe to break their fine start to the season at home. Hohoe United are determined to remain in the league, and strong home performances are all that they need.

Samuel Boadu’s Berekum Chelsea are welcoming Vision FC to the Golden City Park. With just one win for Chelsea, Boadu and his team are under immense pressure to start picking up more points, especially at home. Two back-to-back defeats were followed by a draw at Young Apostles for Chelsea. Vision FC’s away performance is the only blip in their fine start to the season, and they will need to triple their away performance to stand any chance of winning at Berekum.

Bibiani Gold Stars seem to have weathered the JSK storm, having bounced back to winning ways. The club have won seven points from the last nine with a sumptuous 202 draw at Hearts of Oak, making them a strong contender for the title. The defending champions, led by Samuel Atta Kumi, are flying high at the moment and will depend on their favourite Duns Park to add Young Apostles to their victims.

Dreams are in the relegation zone once again, having been under much pressure in the early stages of last season. The Still Believe will welcome the undefeated Samartex, who sits in 6th place on the log. Staying second from bottom, Dreams FC will need all three points to move out of danger.

Holy Stars have prepared a sacking letter to head coach Evans Adotey for failing to win any of the games played. They are the only side yet to score a single goal in the Premier League. The statistics are horrible to read, and Adotey is aware that without many points on the board, he can lose his job. Hearts of Oak’s visit to the bottom-placed side is a must-win game for Mas-Ud Didi Dramani’s side, who drew 2-2 against Gold Stars in week 7 at the Accra Sports Stadium. With a huge chance to move into the top 4 at least, Phobia will be aiming for all three points against Adotey’s strugglers.

Agona Sweduru will be buzzing for the visit of Heart of Lions from Kpando. All Blacks are determined to make Sweduru Stadium a fortress even though they have already lost a game at home. Gold Stars’ slim win in Sweduru stunned the fans but immediately returned to winning ways with a 1-0 win when Holy Stars visited. All Blacks have won just six points, and both wins were at home. Heart of Lions are just a point behind table toppers Aduana Stars, as a win for the visitors could send them to the top.

All eyes will be on Kotoko’s attack after star man Albert Amoah left for Libya. Who in his absence will take the goalscoring responsibility, especially with the experienced Kwame Poku, who is not much fit. Karela are unbeaten in their last three games. Asante Kotoko stopped the struggles against Karela last season by winning home and away against one of their recent bogey sides. The Baba Yara Stadium will welcome the Porcupine Warriors back after the disastrous defeat in Morocco.

Aduana Stars on Monday will round up the week with a trip to Eleven Wonders. The fixture is a David and Goliath affair considering their recent performances. The Ogya Boys are currently sitting in second place on the league log, having won five games and lost two. Aduana Stars secured a 2-0 win at Hohoe in their last away game and will hope to continue. Everything points to the fact that they have regained their home confidence and will need to develop a huge mentality in their away games to help them reach the Promised Land. Eleven Wonders lost head coach Ordartey Lamptey after he resigned due to unacceptable results and how the club is being run.

Friday 31 October

Bechem United v Nations (3:30 pm)

Saturday 1st November

Hohoe United v Medeama (3:30 pm)

Sunday 2nd November

Berekum Chelsea v Vision FC (3 pm)

Bibiani Gold Stars v Young Apostles (3 pm)

Dreams FC v Samartex (3 pm)

Holy Stars v Hearts of Oak (3 pm)

Sweduru All Blacks v Heart of Lions (3 pm)

Asante Kotoko v Karela United (3:30 pm)

Monday 3rd November

Eleven Wonders v Aduana Stars (3 pm)