The striking department of Accra Hearts of Oak will once again come under scrutiny when they travel to Golden City Park at Berekum to face Berekum Chelsea in a crucial Ghana Premier League encounter tomorrow.

After five matches into the season, Coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani’s men have struggled to find the back of the net, scoring only two goals so far — despite maintaining an impressive defensive record of not conceding any goals.

This poor conversion rate underscores the Phobians’ continued struggles in attack, even after the club’s heavy investment in signing forwards Frank Abora Duku from Vision FC and Prince Kwabena Owusu from Bibiani Gold Stars. 

The lack of cutting edge in front of goal remains a major concern for Dramani, who must find solutions quickly if Hearts are to emerge as genuine title contenders this season.

Their opponents, Berekum Chelsea, coached by Samuel Boadu, who led Hearts to their last Premier League title five seasons ago, have also endured a slow start to the campaign, sitting 13th on the league table with just one win in four outings.

Like Hearts, Chelsea have also been inconsistent in attack, having scored three goals and conceded five so far.

However, coach Boadu will be banking on the massive home support at Golden City Park, as well as Hearts’ poor goal-scoring form, to snatch all three points and restore confidence in his team.

Historically, Hearts have held the upper hand in this fixture, winning 13 of their last 30 meetings, with Chelsea winning nine, and eight ending in draws. Last season, the Phobians completed a double over Chelsea — winning 3–1 in Accra before sealing a 1–0 away victory at Berekum — and will be eager to replicate that feat to reignite their campaign.

Coach Boadu is expected to rely on Prince Anane and Haruna Shaibu, both of whom found the net in their 2–1 victory over Basake Holy Stars last Sunday, while dependable goalkeeper Kwaku Owusu will be key in keeping Hearts’ forwards at bay.

For Dramani’s men, tomorrow’s clash represents not only a test of resilience but also an opportunity to prove that their goal-scoring drought can finally come to an end.

Other weekend fixtures

Elsewhere at the Hohoe Sports Stadium, Hohoe United will clash with Aduana FC in another important fixture tomorrow.

The two teams are separated by just a point, with two-time champions Aduana FC sitting sixth and the league's newcomers seventh on the log. 

As debutants, Hohoe United will be eager to prove their worth in the elite division and will fight hard to climb further up the standings.

At the Swedru Stadium, Swedru All Blacks will aim to make the venue a fortress when they host Basake Holy Stars, who are struggling in the bottom half of the table (two draws and two losses).

Holy Stars will see this game as an opportunity to turn their season around and begin climbing up the log.

Meanwhile, Bechem United, who have been below par this season (three losses and two draws), will hope to revive their form when they welcome ninth-placed Vision FC to the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park.

Later today, Dreams FC will chase their first win of the season when they host Nations FC at Tuba Astro Turf Park. Winless in five matches and lying 17th on the log, Dreams FC will be desperate to capitalise on home advantage against an in-form Nations FC.

At Swedru Park, Eleven Wonders will entertain Karela United, while the biggest clash of the weekend will see league leaders Medeama SC take on FC Samartex at the Tarkwa T&A Park.

Both former league champions and regional rivals, Medeama and FC Samartex, remain unbeaten this season, but the Tarkwa-based side head into the game with an impressive record of four wins in five matches. 

The T&A Park has become one of the most difficult venues for visiting teams, and Medeama will be determined to maintain their home invincibility by handing 2023/24 league champions their first defeat of the campaign.

On Monday, defending champions Bibiani Gold Stars return to Dun's Park to take on second-placed Kpando Heart of Lions, who are unbeaten this season and have won one and drawn two of three away games so far.

Struggling Techiman Eleven Wonders, bottom on the log with one point from five matches, take on 10th-placed Karela United, who are unbeaten on the road this season, in the second fixture on Monday.