Ghana Premier League: Gilbert Fiamenyoh powers Hearts of Oak to opening day triumph

By Akyereko Frimpong Manson

Follow Akyereko on Twitter: @AkyerekOfficial

Accra Hearts of Oak opened their 2014/15 Ghana Premier League season with a narrow 1-0 win over new-comers West African Football Academy on Saturday at the Kpando Park. 

Burly striker Gilbert Fiamenyoh claimed the maximum points for the Phobians with a clinical finish in the 58th minute after profiting from a defensive blunder from the WAFA defence.

The Phobians had their home venue shifted to the Volta region, some miles drive away from the Ghanaian capital due to a Ghana Football Association disciplinary action -  a two home match ban.

Though they were playing home-away-from-home, their opponents - formerly Gomoah Fetteh Feyenoord had beaten them just once in their last six clashes and Herbert Addo's line-up made a big statement about his side's ambitions going into the game.

Hearts' preparations towards the league opener had seen them demolish Akosombo Crystal Palace 5-0 and the match who netted the solitary goal of the game had scored twice in that friendly.

Tetteh Luggard had the nod to man the post for the Phobians due to absence of contenders Soulama Abdoulai and Mutawakilu Seidu who are both on international assignment with Burkina Faso (AFCON) and Ghana U23.

Youngster Isaac Mensah was handed a spot the starting eleven but South African international Mason Shaun October and Togolese Komi Foovi Aguidi were dropped to the bench while Ivorian defender Robin Gnagne was not in the team for the game.

For Hearts it was merely an expression of dominance over WAFA and could have turned the game into demolition exercise had their front-line been lethal.

WAFA goalkeeper Theophilus Jackson did a lot to stand in their in the opening 45 minutes with his feline agility and brilliant area superiority.

It was a calamitous back pass gifted to Fiamenyoh by Ali Ibrahim and the former Heart of Lions man playing at his former grounds maintained his cool to calmly to finish. It was an attack initiated by Paul Acquah from the flanks. He ghostly sneaked through a sweet pass from Acquah and lifted the ball over the on-rushing keeper with Ibrahim's attempted clearance confusing the goalkeeper.

Kenneth Okoro, Foovi Aguidi and Richard Yamoah all made late entry into the game.