FC AshantiGold 04 head coach Abdul Karim Zito has set his sights on securing maximum points when his side plays its first-ever Ghana Premier League (GPL) home game against Vision FC at the Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi on Saturday afternoon.
The match, scheduled for 3pm, will be another landmark occasion for the newly promoted side, who are competing in the Ghanaian top flight for the first time in their history.
FC AshantiGold 04 began their maiden Premier League campaign with a 1-1 draw against fellow newcomers Port City FC away from home. While the result gave them a point on the road, Zito knows a home victory would provide a significant boost as the club settles into life in the top division.
The return of Premier League football to the Len Clay Stadium also adds another layer of significance to the fixture. The Obuasi venue has not hosted regular GPL action since Ashanti Gold FC (AshGold) were demoted to the lower divisions by the Ghana Football Association for match-fixing before eventually becoming defunct.
Most of the players in the team were handed bans from playing while several management members of the team and the owners were handed varying degrees of long term suspensions from football.
It is important, however, to distinguish the current FC AshantiGold 04 from the former AshantiGold FC. The present club was formed following the acquisition and rebranding of Bekwai Heroes and has earned its place in the Premier League through promotion.
With history guaranteed to be made in Obuasi regardless of the result, the home side will be determined to ensure it is remembered for the right reasons.
Zito Demands Maximum Effort Against Dangerous Vision FC
Zito expects a difficult encounter against a Vision FC side that made an impressive start to the season.
The Tema-based club defeated Young Apostles FC 3-0 at the Nii Adjei Okraku II Sports Complex on the opening weekend, with Setsofia Aqetey scoring twice.
The former Asante Kotoko head coach is therefore refusing to underestimate his opponents and believes his players must approach the match with the required intensity. “We are seriously on the preparation because it will be our first match at home. And we’ve got to win at all costs and then make certain with our targets in the league,” Zito said.
He acknowledged the quality and youthful energy within the Vision FC squad, stressing that his team must be prepared for a competitive contest.
“It won’t be easy. They are all full of youthful players who are very good. I know them, they know me. So it won’t be easy. So we are also seriously on the preparation.”
Abdul Karim Zito, FC AshantiGold Head Coach
FC AshantiGold 04 will also be encouraged by a clean bill of health ahead of the game, with Zito confirming that there are no injury concerns ahead of the encounter.
The coach also drew lessons from his side’s opening-day draw, particularly the missed chances that prevented them from taking all three points.
“Both teams squandered so many chances and at the end of the day, we settled on one point. So we don’t want that to happen. So it’s a big lesson to us that we have to go all out and we should win this game at all costs.”
Abdul Karim Zito, FC AshantiGold Head Coach
Zito is also conscious of the pressure that comes with playing at home, particularly for a club making its first appearance in the Premier League at its own traditional venue.
The coach, however, insists his players must embrace the responsibility rather than allow it to weigh them down. “For pressure, it is everywhere. It is in every work. The pressure to deliver is there and to perform is there,” he said. “But we take it to the body, we don’t take it to the heart.“
Vision FC’s opening-day performance provides a warning for the hosts, but Zito believes the result offers only an indication of their quality rather than a complete picture of what to expect.
“It also gives us the idea that they are good. And they play well. And they have a striker who can do this and that,” he said, while adding that his technical team would need to conduct further research before determining how best to approach the game.
Captain Boazee rallies supporters for historic home occasion
FC AshantiGold 04 captain Jacob Boazee has also acknowledged the magnitude of the occasion and called on supporters to turn out in numbers at the Len Clay Stadium.
The players will hope the backing from the stands can provide the extra push required to turn their first home Premier League appearance into a memorable victory.
For Vision FC, however, the objective will be to build on their emphatic opening-weekend performance and spoil the hosts’ historic occasion.
That sets the stage for an intriguing contest in Obuasi, with FC AshantiGold 04 seeking their first Premier League win and Vision FC looking to maintain their early momentum.
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