Accra Hearts of Oak defender Kelvin Osei Asibey has been nominated alongside three other players for the Ghana Premier League (GPL) NASCO Player of the Month award for October following impressive performances during the month.
Osei Asibey faces competition from Port City FC forward Owusu Ansah, Bibiani Gold Stars striker Kwame Opoku and Swedru All Blacks United FC forward Eric Wiafe Darkwah for the individual accolade.
The four players earned their nominations through their contributions to their respective teams across October’s league fixtures, with their statistics highlighting different forms of influence at both ends of the pitch.
Ansah leads the nominees in goals scored after finding the net four times in five appearances for Port City. He also claimed two NASCO Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, underlining his importance to the newly promoted side during the month.
Opoku follows with three goals in four matches for Gold Stars, having also secured two NASCO MVP awards. His goalscoring contribution made him one of the standout attacking performers in October.
Osei Asibey Leads MVP Count
Unlike the other three nominees, who are all forwards, Osei Asibey earned his nomination through his defensive performances for Hearts of Oak.
The centre-back featured in four matches during the month without registering a goal or an assist. However, his solid defensive performances earned him three NASCO MVP awards, the highest among the four nominees.
His three MVP recognitions reflect the consistency of his displays and the influence he exerted at the heart of the Hearts defence, making him a strong contender despite not contributing directly to the team’s goals.
Wiafe Darkwah completes the list after scoring twice in four appearances for Swedru All Blacks. Like Ansah and Opoku, he also collected two NASCO MVP awards, taking his total to two goals and two individual match recognitions during the assessment period.
The winner of the Player of the Month award will receive a 43-inch NASCO television and a NASCO double-door bottom-freezer refrigerator, courtesy of Electroland Ghana Limited.
Kapor Faces Two Rivals for Coach Award
Meanwhile, Hearts of Oak head coach Nebojsa Kapor has been nominated for the NASCO Coach of the Month award alongside Swedru All Blacks trainer Joseph Agyeman and Medeama SC coach Tanko Ibrahim.
All three managers guided their respective teams to three victories from four league matches in October, but Kapor’s side enjoyed the most impressive defensive record among the contenders.
Hearts recorded three wins and one draw, finishing the month unbeaten without conceding a single goal. The Phobians scored three goals across their four matches, demonstrating a particularly disciplined defensive approach under the Serbian tactician.
Kapor’s three victories and clean sheet record provide a strong case for his nomination, especially considering that his side maintained defensive solidity throughout the assessment period.
Agyeman also enjoyed an impressive October with Swedru All Blacks, guiding them to three victories and one defeat. His team scored six goals and conceded three across their four matches, giving them a positive goal difference of three.
The performance saw the All Blacks maintain their competitive edge, with Agyeman’s attacking approach producing twice as many goals as Hearts managed during the month.
Medeama Head Coach Matches Agyeman’s Record
Medeama SC coach Tanko Ibrahim completes the coaching shortlist after overseeing an identical record to Agyeman’s Swedru All Blacks.
The Tarkwa-based side registered three victories and one defeat in four matches, scoring six goals and conceding three. Ibrahim’s team therefore matched Agyeman’s record in wins, losses, goals scored and goals conceded.
While both coaches produced similar statistical returns, Kapor stands out for guiding Hearts to an unbeaten October without conceding, although his team scored fewer goals than the other two contenders.
The Coach of the Month winner will receive a 40-inch NASCO television and a NASCO double-door bottom-freezer refrigerator, with both prizes sponsored by Electroland Ghana Limited.
The October awards will recognise the individual players and coaches whose contributions made the greatest impact on their respective teams during the month’s Ghana Premier League fixtures.
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