Abdul Aziz Nurudeen: Hearts of Oak midfielder warns Asante Kotoko ahead of biggest game on Sunday
The biggest fixture on Ghana’s local football calendar comes off this Sunday with Hearts of Oak hosting their rivals Asante Kotoko at Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Due to Hearts’ participation in African club competition, the fixture was postponed from Matchday 7 before a rescheduled date took it to Sunday 20th February, 2022.
Ahead of the super clash, Abdul Aziz Nurudeen has issued warning in what rivals Asante Kotoko should expect nothing but a defeat.
Hearts of Oak midfielder, Abdul Aziz Nurudeen has stated with so much optimism that, they will grind all three points from the league leaders on Sunday despite admitting their opponents start the game as favourites.
The battle for the bragging rights and three points will still be at stake as Hearts of Oak set sights on making a top four finish in the first round whiles the ‘Kum Apem’ lads will also look to extend their lead to 9 points at the summit of the league.
Heading into the game, combative midfielder Abdul Aziz Nurudeen has vowed with confidence that, they are going to beat their arch-rivals to wrap up the first phase of the season in style.
“We know Asante Kotoko are doing well in the league but we will beat them on Sunday.”
The ex- Black Meteors star returned into the ‘Phobians’ set up weeks ago having made his debut against Great Olympics from the bench but gained a full time action in their goalless draw game against Real Tamale United last week.
Kotoko have already lost two games this season against King Faisal and bottom place Elmina Sharks. Should Nurudeen’s words come to pass, it will be the Reds third loss of the season.
Kotoko lead the table with 36 points and a win will extend their lead to 9 points at the end of first round of the Ghana Premier League.
Their Sunday’s rivals Hearts have endured poor first round campaign sitting 8th place on the log with 12 points below Asante Kotoko.
Hearts seem to be suffering from the Caf competition woes winning only 6 of their 17 Ghana Premier League fixtures so far. The passion underpinning their play is highly questionable in what is anticipated to be declined interest in playing the league.
The Ghana Premier League champions opened a bright campaign to the African Champions League after eliminating Guinean side Club Industriel de Kamsar in a single clash in Ghana.
Hearts beat Kamsar 2-0 in the first round to set a second round tie against former champions Wydad Athletic Club. The Moroccans sent Hearts to the Caf Confederation Cup playoff after thrashing the Ghanaian side 6-2 on aggregate over two legged tie.
Hearts’ bid to reach the group stages of the Confederation Cup- which would have only come with victory over their handed opponents JS Saoura but the Algerian side stole the ticket on 4-2 superiority.
Their unexpected end of the Caf competitions has impeded their Ghana Premier League title defence but a victory rather than a defeat will be a booster score line that will reduce points deficit to 9.
With confidence ever looming in Hearts camp since signing former Serie A midfielder Sulley Muntari, the Accra based side are expected to bounce back in the second round of the Ghana Premier League which starts 25th February 2022.
Sulley Muntari arrived in preparations to Great Olympics game and the former Inter Milan man made his Hearts of Oak debut in 1-0 loss to Olympics coming off the bench to show some impressive displays in the Ga-Manste derby.
Muntari made his full debut against Real Tamale United in goalless draw in Tamale last Sunday. The former AC Milan star is expected to maintain his starting place in Sunday’s big clash against Asante Kotoko- a side he once said he wanted to play for before his move to Hearts.
Muntari once linked with Asante Kotoko
Ghana Premier League side Asante Kotoko were reportedly leading the race, likely to beat Hearts of Oak and Premier Soccer League club Kaizer Chiefs to the signing of Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari.
Gyan had remained clubless after ending his spell with Indian Super League outfits NorthEast back in January this year. The former Black Stars captain was in search of a new challenge and could have joined a club he has stated he will retire at, Asante Kotoko.
And despite interest from Europe and Asia, the Kumasi based side remained favorites to sign Gyan for their next season campaign as revealed by agent Anim Addo.
“Kotoko have said they like him because he once stated that he’ll one day play for Kotoko, but for now, no club has approached him with any offer,” Gyan’s agent told Graphic Sports.
“Gyan has had offers from Europe and Asia but if Kotoko can meet our terms, then why not?”
Gyan, who played for Liberty Professionals during his time in the domestic league, desire to play for Ghana Premier League side dates back to 9 years ago.
In 2013, Gyan told Angel FM that “I will definitely return one day to the Ghana Premier League where I will play for no other club than Asante Kotoko.
”I have and always been a big fan of Kotoko and always wish the club win games and trophies.”
The former Sunderland forward re-reiterated his desire in 2018, saying, “I have said it over and over again. I am definitely going to play for Kotoko.
“It’s official and confirmed – people know and I always say it. I am going to play for Kumasi Asante Kotoko before I retire,” he was reported by Ghana Sports Online as saying.
Gyan, 36, left Liberty for Italian Seria A side Udinese in 2003. He went on to represent Modena, Stade Rennes, Sunderland, Al Ain, Shanghai SIPG, Al Ahli Dubai and Kayserispor.
While returning to the Ghana Premier League, Gyan swerved Asante Kotoko to join Legon Cities in November 2020 in a deal worth 1M dollars.
It was understood that Gyan was coming into the Ghana Premier League with national teammate Sulley Muntari.
It was revealed that Muntari could swerve Hearts of Oak and Kaizer Chiefs for Kotoko after revealing his love for 23-time Ghana Premier League winners.
The 35-year old Ghana International opened a quest to make a move to either PSL side Kaizer Chiefs or Hearts of Oak after ending a six-month stint with Spanish second division outfit Albacete last year.
But Muntari lately expressed his love for Hearts’ rivals Asante Kotoko with his expression coming as a results of Asamoah Gyan ready to join Kotoko.
“I love Kotoko. They tried signing me when l was a young player in Kumasi,” Muntari said in an Instagram Live chat with his fans.
“I would love to retire with them, but l would not rule out Hearts, RTU [Real Tamale United], King Faisal or Liberty Professionals”, Muntari revealed that when him and Gyan was linked with Kotoko 2 years ago.
The former AC Milan star played for Ghana Premier League side Liberty Professionals before first travelling abroad to join Udinese in 2002.
In a 2012-13 Ghana Premier League run-in where Kotoko went head-to-head with Berekum Chelsea ahead of the final matchweek, Muntari backed Kotoko to win the title, saying, “All I know is Kotoko is going to win the league this weekend, they have been doing well this season and I think with the consistency and their strong mentality, they are going to win.
“I don’t know why the PLB [Professional League Board] won’t give the cup to Kotoko if they win because they have a greater goal difference. I think it is something they have to take a second look at. But I trust in the boys to deliver and Kotoko will be winners after the final matches.”
His time abroad has been very productive as he has won the Champions League, Fifa Club World Cup, two Italian Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia trophies and two Italian Super Cup golds during a four-year stay with Inter between 2008 and 2012.
Earlier, he helped Portsmouth win the English FA Cup in 2008.
