The Ghanaian premiership is also witnessing its own off season transfers. It might not invoke a global attention like what occurred in the English Premier League, arguably the hottest soccer league in the world.
But the Ghanaian transfers have its own trapping that for once is defying the usual big spending transfers between traditional big clubs Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak.
Baby club Chelsea has vowed to disturb the two big clubs and indeed have plucked one of the finest strikers on the local scene-Obed Owusu. The young striker scored nine goals for relegated Swedru All Blacks in the just ended league.
Obed Owusu was a target for both Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko, but the Bechem club pulled a fast one on the two to snap up the signature of the youngster.
The Bechem club is planning a big coup on the big clubs-especially, Asante Kotoko and have indicated a desire to sign most improved goalkeeper on the local scene, Isaac Amoako.
Kotoko on the other hand has almost concluded the signing of two players from Kumasi based Kessben Football Club. The club’s defensive pillar, Yahaya Mohammed is all set to join Asante Kotoko next season. The former King Faisal player who was at a centre of major controversy between Accra Hearts of Oak and King Faisal last season is in talks with Asante Kotoko over his contract payment for the next three years after his club agreed to transfer him to the Porcupine Warriors.
Another Kessben player, Baba Iddi is a target of both Real Tamale United and Kumasi Asante Kotoko. Although RTU seemed to have gained the signature of the youngster, Kotoko have launched a last minute bid, where from all indications, Baba Iddi, is likely to join the huge Kotoko family next season.
Former Kotoko player, full back Ofosu Appiah, is back to his mother club after unsuccessful stint with Kessben, some two seasons ago. Ofosu Appiah refused to sign for Kessben after expiration of his contract with Kessben last season. That enabled him to become a free agent and has decided to join Kotoko for the next season.
Ofosu Appiah captained Kotoko some two seasons ago, but fell out with the former Kotoko management led by Sylvester Owusu. The refusal of the then Kotoko management to grant the wishes of many old Kotoko players led to many of the club’s top players like Edmund Owusu Ansah, William Thompson, George Yamoah and others leaving Kotoko to other premiership sides.
Kotoko are also in talks with Wa All Stars for their defensive pillar Isaac Owusu, Bechem Chelsea’s Issaka Awudu, Sam Kyere and three other Tema Youth players including striker Edmund Affum who have all expressed a desire to play for the Kumasi club next year. Kotoko are also on the heels of Liberty Professionals Eric Boakye and Salifu, that illusive striker who scored against Kotoko in all two matches that the club played last season.
Kotoko has released loaned players-Harrison Afful, Samuel Nzemoba and Emmanuel Agyemang Badu back to their teams. The move according to Kotoko officials offers the platform for them to launch a proper and outright purchase of the said players.
TODAY sports gathered that while Kotoko will go at any level to poach Agyemang Badu and Harrison Afful for next year, the club is off loading Nzemoba outright and has been informed of the club’s decision. The club is also considering transferring Prince Amponsah, Richard Manu and George Asare. Others like Abdul Razak Ganiyu and his fellow RTU compatriot, Hanan Giwah are to be observed during the Top Four competition.
Accra Hearts of Oak are just as intensive as Asante Kotoko in the transfer market. Edward Affum is also a target of Accra Hearts of Oak just as Francis Mantey of Wa All Stars. The Phobians are just a whisker away from signing Lee Addy of Berekum Chelsea although Kotoko are also said to be on the heels of the young defensive pillar.
Another Chelsea player that is on the radar of Accra Hearts of Oak is Mohammed Attika and Yaw Alexander, a former player of Brong Ahafo United.
The biggest target of Kpando Heart of Lions is Kumasi Asante Kotoko midfield gem, Daniel Nii Adjei. And although Kotoko officials are said to be preparing a mouth watering package for the former Kotoko Under20 star, the Heart of Lions threat cannot be dismissed as just a dream.
In the past the Kpando team had been able to snap up some of the finest Kotoko players like former captain Edmund Owusu Ansah, William Thompson, Kweku Duah and George Yamoah and that offers enough pointer to the muscle that the Kpando team wields in the transfer market. Aside is the coach Paa Kwesi Fabien magic that is likely to work again for the Kpando lads. A former Kotoko coach, Paa Kwesi has been very instrumental in wooing the Kotoko players to Kpando and it’s only a matter of time to see if he can pull a fast one on Kotoko this time round.
Real Tamale United has already wrapped up deals with Accra Hearts of Oak’s Daniel Coleman, Eric Nyarko and Hassan Mohammed, all targets of rumoured transfers. The high profile purchase by the Tamale team, according to club management is to avoid the often heart breaking relegation escape that has starred RTU for the past two seasons.
Indeed, RTU would want to build that awesome character that was manifested in the era of Mohammed Choo, Mahama Nlai, PMK Kusi, Farouk Umar and others who after just a season in the Ghanaian league in 1978 nearly won the then first division league, only to be denied by Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Kumasi Sports Stadium for Accra Hearts of Oak to pip them on the tape.