GPL Preview: Asante Kotoko vs Basake Holy Stars
Asante Kotoko return to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday looking to halt a worrying dip in form when they host Basake Holy Stars in a Ghana Premier League matchday 20 encounter heavy with sub-plots.
Despite sitting third on the table with 32 points and owning the league’s second-best attacking record (24 goals), the Porcupine Warriors are winless in their last three matches (2 draws and 1 defeat).
More concerning for head coach Abdul Karim Zito is Kotoko’s recent bluntness in front of goal, having failed to score in successive outings with two goalless draws against Berekum Chelsea and Bibiani GoldStars.
The head-to-head record between the two sides offers little to separate them.
Since Holy Stars’ promotion to the top flight last season, the teams have met three times previously, with each side recording one win apiece and one draw.
The Basake-based side claimed a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season, though neither team has managed an away win in this matchup.
Kotoko, however, will draw confidence from their formidable home form. The Kumasi giants remain unbeaten at the Baba Yara this season, a record that provides a strong foundation as they seek to reassert their title credentials.
Holy Stars head into the contest 12th on the log with 23 points, encouraged by a morale-boosting home victory in their last outing. That optimism is tempered by a poor away record; they are yet to register a win on the road and have scored just three goals away from home all season.
Sunday’s clash presents Kotoko with an opportunity to steady the ship and reconnect with their supporters, while Holy Stars will be eager to defy their travel woes and complete a rare league double over the Porcupine Warriors.