Samuel Nsobila added his second goal of the day for Accra Lions with just five minutes left. The goal erupted celebrations from the players, team officials and management members at the Zimmermann park in Nungua as the team qualified for the first time in their history to the Ghanaian top-flight league after beating Danbort FC 3-1.
Not only did they qualify to the Ghana Premier League but they were crowned the champions of the Division One, Zone three League; a memory that would forever live with the club.
Accra Lions Football Club founded on 12th December 2015 have always been the best whenever the need arises for them to jump hurdles. After just two seasons in the Greater Accra Division Two League, the Lions won the Zone four division championship with a record 73 points in 28 matches to book their ticket to the Middle League. During the playoffs, they booked the sole qualification ticket with a 100% winning record.
On 9th of January 2021 they finally kicked-off the second full-season in their club history. A young squad under the tutelage of German tactician, Rainer Kraft sensationally won the league with 59 points from 28 matches and secured a maiden promotion to the Ghana Premier League.
With the 2021/2022 Ghana Premier League set to start on Friday, 29th October, 2021, the newbies will open the 2021/22 Premier League with a home fixture against Elmina Sharks at the Accra Sports stadium as the first match of the season. They would have to prove a point and make an early statement in the league when they face Great Olympics, Dreams FC, Bechem United and fellow newbies, Bibiani Goldstars in the next rounds of games.
But how is the club developed in cooperation with LionShare, a Germany based players’ management company preparing for the task ahead of them in the GPL?
Accra Lions have completed the signing of 11 players ahead of the season. The players signed to beef up the squad are young and energetic with the oldest among them being 21-years old.
Remember Adomako Boateng, Progress Nwanchuku, Daniel Awuni, Hagan Frimpong, Kwadwo Junior Kyeremanteng, Shawkan Hunalf Mohammed, Alex Ketu, Rich Sackey, Fawzan Dandawa, Abass Samari Salifu, and Evans Eenee are the players brought to augment the squad of Rainer Kraft.
The German gaffer in preparation for the Ghana Premier League featured 28 players in the just ended maiden edition of the Division One League Super Cup tournament. Placed in Group B of the Super Cup with fellow Ghana Premier League team, Real Tamale United, Samartex 1996 and Berekum Arsenal, the Accra-based club topped their group in the Division One Super Cup with six points to qualify for the semi-finals.
Daboase-baed club, Skyy FC eliminated them in the semi-finals by a goal in extra time but the Lions went on to win bronze as they beat Samartex 1996 3-1 in the third-placed game of the competition. Winning three games and losing two in the Division One Super Cup, Rainer Kraft’s boys will be willing to replicate their form as the Ghana Premier League starts.
Speaking to EIB Network Sports, head coach, Rainer Kraft revealed that their qualification to the GPL was not a fluke and their aim is to make an impact in their first stint in the GPL.
“We are here to make an impact of course. We are very ambitious; the team has an ambitious coach. We want to win matches and we want to be in the best position if possible. We know is a different thing to be in division one but we will give our best to succeed.” He said.
Talking about their preparations ahead of the season he revealed they have been engaged in some preseason friendlies ahead of the season.
“We have worked very very hard on our physical abilities in the last few weeks, we are definitely ready. We had our preseason friendly versus Hearts of Oak which we luckily won. We gave them a good prep match for their qualification cup match so I think we are prepared.” He said.
Speaking about his new signings, the man expected to give instructions from the dugout revealed “We have made a lot of signings in all part of the pitch, all of them are very young, and very promising players.” He said.
“Personally, I want to win every match.” He said when asked where he wants to be on the league log at the end of the season.
Captain for Accra Lions, Richmond Tetteh Ankrah shares in the vision and ambition of his head coach in terms of their target for the upcoming Ghana Premier League season.
“We have a very good coach, he has helped us to qualify from division one and we are bringing a different ball game all together to the Ghana Premier League. Our main aim is to win more matches and play good football and by so doing, we will be able to qualify to play in CAF competitions. We respect the Ghana Premier League a lot, there are big teams there but we are here to play football and we are here to stay”. He said
As newbies in the Ghana Premier League, will the Lions from Accra be able to roar, devour clubs, and climb top of the Ghana Premier League log or they will just add up to the numbers? Time will tell.
Source: Ghana/StarrFM/103.5/James Ohenba Mckeown