Returnees Bofoakwa Tano will lock horns with Hearts of Oak at the Sunyani Coronation Park on Saturday after picking 4 points from their first two matches. Bofoawka grabbed a well-deserved point in their season opener against Accra Great Olympics (0-0) before an imperious 2-1 win over Real Tamale United – their first Premier League home win in 16 years.
Bofoakwa Tano are among the four clubs who have yet to lose a game in two opening games of the season – and would aim for the points against Accra Hearts of Oak who faltered in their last game on the road.
Bofoakwa Tano have not beaten Accra Hearts of Oak since 1995 – a record that stretches back to the Premier League era in 1993/94 – going 18 games without a win against the Phobians.
Hearts of Oak have played against seven newly promoted sides in away encounters since the 2021/22 season and have won four, lost two and drawn one.
The Phobians recorded a 3-0 victory against Accra Lions, beat Gold Stars 1-0 in Bibiani and drew 0-0 with Real Tamale United in the 2021/22 season. In the 2022/23 season, Hearts of Oak beat Kotoku Royals 1-0 in Cape Coast 1-0, managed a 1-0 win against Nsoatreman FC 1-0, capitulated 4-1 against Tamale City 4-1 before falling to FC Samartex 3-2 at Sameraboi.
The Phobians are on a rebuilding exercise after their disappointing outing last season – resulted in the signing of about 10 new players to augment the squad. The likes of Samuel Inkoom, Gladson Awako, Konadu Yiadom, Yassan Ouatching, Clinton Appiah, Zakaria Yakubu, Hamza Mohammed and Benjamin Yorke have all left the club.
They head into Saturday’s game against a side that has been nothing but near perfect in their opening matches of the campaign. Coach Frimpong Manso’s Bofoakwa Tano have won one and drawn one in the league – scoring two goals and conceding 1 in the process.
Top marksman Saaka Dauda, Elijah Addai, Najib Fusieni, Clement Ansah, Ali Alhassan, Emmanuel Ankrah and Kelvin Oppong are all available for selection as Frimpong Manso aims for a second successive home win to break the 18 game hoodoo against Hearts of Oak.
Hearts of Oak are winless in their last 11 away games in the League – having suffered 8 defeats and recorded 3 draws – with a total of 4 goals scored and 16 conceded.
Ramos Kashala Wanet who scored their first goal of the season against Nsoatreman FC on Sunday, will lead the lines for Martin Koopman’s side. Midfielder Abdul Aziz Nurudeen who missed the whole of last season due to meniscus injury is back in the squad – looking to impress the fans.
New signings Kelvin Osei Asibey, Martin Karikari, Evans Adomako, Kofi Agbesimah are expected to compliment the likes of Denis Korsah, Salifu Ibrahim, Amankwah Baafi and Kojo Obeng Junior.
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