Kotoko v Hearts on Sunday: the permutations

Most football fanatics around the globe, this time of the year are following their teams preparations for a new season - specifically , the European football leagues.

However in Ghana it's the preparation for arguably the biggest match in the Ghana Premier League.

Come Sunday all eyes will be preying on the match between arch rivals Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, where three important points will be at stake.

For the Porcupine lads who currently occupy the 4th position on the log with 32 points after 20 games this will be an opportunity to close in the gap on Hearts of Oak. Kotoko have endured a winless streak in three games infront of their home fans. They've also endured their biggest loss yet in the season after a 4-1 trouncing by Dwarfs in Cape Coast.

Coach of the side, Michael Osei, will look to ease pressure off his shoulders and stake a claim that all is well after the club showed the exit door to his former boss David Duncan after a frosty relationship - a decision some have accused Osei of being complicit in.

The rainbow club on the other hand sit top of the log with 37 points and will be looking to kill two birds with a stone knowing a win on Sunday will open an eight-point lead over their rivals and consolidate their top spot as they stake a claim for a league trophy after years of waiting.

Gaffer of the side, Sergio Traguil will be hoping to use the game to get at their rivals after they lost to Kotoko at home through a howler by goalkeeper Soulama Abdoulaye. The aim will also be to win the fans over to his side.

Hearts have been in fine form in their last five matches , winning three and are yet to taste defeat during that period. Perhaps the phrase 'home away from home' is what the rainbow club has come to live with in their past five encounters in the den of Kotoko as they have lost just once, winning twice and the rest ending in a draw.

Kotoko look to have struggled without top marksman Dauda Mohammed who had been in the camp of the Satellites and could miss Sunday's match while Hearts of Oak on the other hand look likely to welcome back striker, Cosmos Dauda who was out of their last game.

Dauda has found his scoring boots outside the Accra Sports Stadium more than he has at home and will look to add Kotoko to his casualty list. Former Kotoko goalie, the experienced Soulama Abdoulaye, was the culprit the last time the two sides met in Accra with the Reds carrying the day thanks to his mistake and a red card which cost his side three valuable points.

Kotoko will look to exploit his mentality again. But not if he can help it.

“I am not scared to be in the post on Sunday. I am matured and a professional player, what happened in the past is gone. The mistake did not start by me and when you do a mistake you don’t repeat because if it happens then you are a fool. But I thank God to help me to save my team once again", he said on Thursday.

A loss for Kotoko will put pressure on Michael Osei whose tactical acumen was questioned by Bechem boss Manuel Zacharias after the midlands team managed to take a point away in a goaless draw in Kumasi.

A loss for the Phobias will bring back the ghost of Kenichi Yatsuhashi, who the fans adored and may increase apathy, which can be said to be lukewarm at this stage. There's also hushed talk that a win against the archrival will certainly be the springboard to launch a run for Hearts to cop a first league title since 2009.

Whatever happens , fans can be assured that the biggest match of local football in Ghana will bring nothing short of excitement to those who will troop to watch and follow the match.

But...what if it ends in a draw ?
Sunday awaits.