As part of the review of the first round of the Ghana Premier League, we look at the performance of all 16 clubs on a grading basis.

Form and league position were considered in the allocation of grades. The grading system are as follows.

A       Excellent
B+    Very Good
B      Good
C+   Average
C     Fair
D+   Barely Satisfactory
D    Weak / *Conditional Pass
E     Failure

So how did the 16 teams fare?

ADUANA STARS

After a busy transfer window where the Dormaa side arguably bought the brightest talents on the land, it was a must that they are mentioned in and around the title chasers. Their start however was appalling, losing all three opening games without scoring a goal and changing their coach. When they finally put their woes behind them, the 2009 league champions showed the stuff they are made. Led by Yahaya Mohammed, Aduana have scored the most goals in the league and kept the most clean sheets so far. A decent performance after a shaky start.

LEAGUE POSITION- 2ND

GRADE – B+

ASHANTIGOLD-

The league champions have had a torrid time so far in the league drawing 10 games and winning only two. Despite losing only three games, the champions have been a pale shadow of themselves that won the league title last year. They have not been able to replicate the attacking thrust they provided last season scoring only 11 goals. Home games, which was the foundation for their league triumph last season, has also diminished. The fact that they have drawn more games need they need to tweak a few things around and the Miners will be up and running. A barely satisfactory performance by Ashgold.

LEAGUE POSITION-12TH

GRADE- D+

BECHEM UNITED

The Bechem side are quite regrettably where they normally are around this time of the season.They usually produce their best at the end if the campaign when desperation begins to set in. They lost their best player in Noah Martey and have taken time to adjust and move on without him. A weak performance none the less from the side now coached by Manuel Zacharias. There however seems to be renewed optisim after the signing of Alfred Nelson and Hans Kwofie as well as their great FA Cup run.

LEAGUE POSITION: 14TH

GRADE- D

CHELSEA

Solid at home, poor away. This has been the story of Chelsea ever since they won the league title in 2010. Their 4 year home invincibility was broken by Hearts of Oak and further dented by Wa All Stars. The only positive for the Berekum side has been striker Saddick Adams whose goals have kept them in decent standing.

LEAGUE POSITION -9TH

GRADE- C

DREAMS

Two wins in two, unbeaten in three and Dreams FC were one of the most talked about teams in the league. Call it inexperience or momentum shift but the debutants have lost the steam and firepower they started the league with. Their first round will be remembered for their impressive away win at Obuasi against the champions Ashantigold. For the type of investment made into the club, they will be glad to push up the table a wee bit.An average performance midway through their debut campaign.

LEAGUE POSTION- 7TH

GRADE- C

DWARFS

Having breezed their way through Division One with basically the same team that got relegated two season back, it was expected that Dwarfs will come back a more experienced team ready to embrace the league challenge. But the Cape Coast side have frozen once again and most importantly their leading marksman Bright Lukman cannot find his scoring boots. A managerial change might be the needed tonic for a second half revival. So far, so unconvincing.

LEAGUE POSITION: 15TH

GRADE-D

HASAACAS

Hasaacas are team of two sides. Offensively one of the proficient clubs in the league with leading striker Eric Bekoe ably supported by former Ghana youth international Samuel Afful and Ernest Papa Arko. Despite scoring 17 goals, the same as league leaders Wa All Stars, they have conceded 25 goals which has contributed to the lower half standing. The minimum aim of the Sekondi side is to survive relegation and with their goal scoring prowess, they can be assured of safety.

LEAGUE POSITION-11TH

GRADE - C

HEARTS OF OAK

Hearts of Oak were a two faced team in the first round of the league. The Phobians had a scintillating start fetching 13 points in their first five games but the other 10 games were not quite impressive as they picked 13 from a possible 30. Considering the lack of faith fans of the club had prior to the start of the league coupled with their away unbeaten status and just two points off the leaders,the first round was not a total disaster for the capital club despite their inconsistent home form where they lost three in seven. A good first round which can be improved upon.

LEAGUE POSITION- 4TH

GRADE- B

INTER ALLIES
The Tema side were predicted to be relegation candidates earlier on in the season after they sold key players of Paa Kwesi Fabin’s side prior to the start of the season. Herbert Addo’s appointment sparked some belief among the few fans that he could mastermind yet another miracle but the task looked more herculean this time. Addo has found his way out of the club and Jimmy Cobblah has replaced him. Eighteen goals scored, eighteen conceded. Good balance, but more to be done from Cobblah and the Tema side.

LEAGUE POSITION – 13TH

GRADE-D+

KOTOKO

Just like Aduana, the weight of expectation on Kotoko to reclaim their league title was high after making 12 signings and an impressive pre season where they won all titles at stake. However, things did not go as planned for the Porcupines Warriors as they had to wait till their fifth game to record a win. David Duncan was subsequently asked to step aside after losing in Dormaa and that coincided with their resurgence. Three straight away wins on a trot including a famous victory over rivals Hearts of Oak confirmed the fact Kotoko are a real force to reckon with. A blip on the penultimate round of games away to Wa All Stars did not deter the Fabulous lads from finishing above Hearts and give them the bragging rights. There are positives for Kotoko which they can build on in the next round.

LEAGUE POSITION- 3RD

GRADE - B

LIBERTY

Liberty are in their 20th year of existence and have set sights on winning the title to mark this landmark occasion. However, they have been architects of their own downfall with their inconsistencies. Impressive one day, ordinary the other day. Despite this,they are still within touching distance of the leaders with 45 points more to play for. Their talented frontline of Latif Blessing, Ebo Mends and Benjamin Arthur will be crucial to lead the Dansoman side to the promised land.  So far, an average performance for Liberty who are usually around the mid-table slot.

LEAGUE POSITION- 6TH

GRADE-C+

MEDEAMA

Medeama had a poor start to the league picking a point out of nine but their quality shone at the tail end of the campaign. The welcome destruction of Africa unsettled the team at the beginning as well as the unpredictability of the former coach Tom Strand but when they settled into their strides, the Tarkwa side proved why they are holding high the flag of Ghana on the continent. Four wins in their last five games, tied with Hearts and Kotoko and two points off the top. A good first round for Medeama.

LEAGUE POSITION- 5TH

GRADE- B

NEW EDUBIASE

Having lost key players in the off season, it was always expected that Edubiase will struggle and they have not let us down. Five straight defeats and the only team to end the first half of the season in single digits as far as goals are concerned. It’s been a bad season for the club who have threatened to pull of the league due to financial constraints. It seems a tall order for Edubiase whose plight might worsen.

LEAGUE POSITION: 16TH

GRADE-D

TECHIMAN CITY

They were destined to be the whipping boys in the league but they have held their own especially at their home grounds in Techiman. Just like Dreams, they lost their way as the league went on losing three of their last five games and their coach Yusuf Abubakar has also parted ways with the club after receiving threats from the fans. So far, a decent performance from the debutants.

LEAGUE POSITION -10TH

GRADE- C

WA ALL STARS

The Wa side are undisputedly the team of the round after an impressive first round performance. Their pre-season was not without problems as they had to change Jimmy Cobblah(now with Inter Allies) with Amos Adepa. The change proved to be a masterstroke as he led the side to 7 games without defeat before falling to Bechem United on matchday through a contentious penalty. With difficult fixtures away at Dormaa and Accra passed with distinction, and a home victory over Kotoko, the Wa side are deservedly the team of the round. They did this by conceding the least goals in the league as well, letting in only 9 goals.

LEAGUE POSITION-1ST

GRADE - A

WAFA
WAFA have not failed to deliver their usual swashbuckling brand of football but have been found wanting yet again for their lack of solidity especially on the road. The Sogakope side have picked up three points on the road with the other 17 coming at their favored home base in Sogakope. Nothing much of a change from last season in the first round. It will be interesting to see how they cope without Dutchman John Killa for the second half of the league.

LEAGUE POSITION- 8TH

GRADE – C

All Photos By Senyuiedzorm A. Adadevoh/ Graphics by Ghale Salem

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