By Rahman Osman
Follow on twitter @iamrahmanosman
The David Duncan led Asante Kotoko tenure will have its biggest test ever when league leaders Ashanti Gold come in town in search of all three points.
Kotoko welcome their regional rivals to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium at a time the fortunes of the team have been plummeting and nothing apart from triumph over Ashgold on Sunday will ensure relative stability.
AshGold themselves haven’t been vintage in their last two games. A 2-1 defeat at the hands of Lions saw the miners drop valuable points before a painful 0-0 drawn game against New Edubiase at home saw the once healthy seven points lead at the summit slashed to just two.
Berekum Chelsea’s surprise 2-1 defeat at the hands of Bechem United came as a respite to the miners, knowing that a win at the Baba Yara Sports stadium will push them to a five point lead with just five games to end the season.
Both sides met at the semi-final stage of the MTN FA cup at the same venue and the Porcupine warriors emerged victorious to reach their fourth FA cup final in five seasons, an impressive 2-0 victory on the day for the Champions.
But on Sunday both sides know the magnitude of the game with Kotoko plunged into 12th on the league table with every game now steering them towards the relegation zone.
AshGold will be well aware of the implications of not winning a league game in three successions and will be desperate to avoid such a scenario.
Defensive errors and wastefulness have defined Kotoko’s season and with experienced Ghana international Fatau Dauda in post for the miners Kotoko will have to be at their attacking best if they to pick up all points on the day.
Prediction.
With all the tension and heightened expectations ahead of the game I expect caution to be the watch word as there is more at stake than just the three points that could define their seasons.
A 2-2 drawn game with Kotoko just shading the possession on the day.