New Dawn: Vision FC, Holy Stars, Young Apostles brace for tougher challenges

In the last 10 days, the Access Bank Division One League delivered a thrilling climax to the 2023-24 season as Vision FC, Basake Holy Stars, and Young Apostles earned their places in the Ghana Premier League through thrilling victories in their zonal competitions.

As they prepare to step into the elite division, these clubs face new challenges that will test their readiness and resilience.

Vision FC were the first to punch their ticket, winning Zone Three with a game to spare, marking their inaugural entry into the Premier League. Young

Apostles followed suit with a nail-biting penalty shootout victory over Techiman Heroes in a play-off at the Accra Sports Stadium last Tuesday to clinch the Zone One title. 

Meanwhile, Holy Stars' promotion was confirmed after the FA's Disciplinary Committee ruled in their favour following a protest against Sefwi

All Stars, whose fans had invaded the pitch, leading to an abrupt end to their match.

Vision FC will cap off their triumphant season with a celebratory match against Susubribi at the Nii Adjei Kraku Sports Complex tomorrow, coinciding with their coronation.

Similarly, Holy Stars will play their final game of the season against PAC Academy at Mohammed Kamil Arena.

Top-flight Challenges 

Promotion to the Premier League brings excitement but also significant hurdles. Newly promoted teams often struggle with the demands of the top flight, facing challenges such as inadequate preparation, poor player recruitment and insufficient facilities.

The case of Bofoakwa Tano, which faced relegation just a season after their 2023-24 Premier League return, underscores these difficulties.

The journey to the Premier League has been a mixed bag for newly promoted Division One teams in recent years. 

FC Samartex, for instance, not only survived their debut season but went on to win the league title in their second season after earning promotion as Zone Two winners. 

Conversely, clubs such as Bofoakwa, which returned to the Premier League after a 16-year hiatus, struggled and faced immediate relegation. 

Challenges such as inadequate preparation, poor player recruitment and substandard home facilities have often hampered new entrants such as Tamale City and Kotoku Royals.

On the other hand, success stories such as FC Samartex and Nations FC highlight the importance of strong player recruitment, solid technical teams and quality facilities. 

Nations FC, in their debut 2023-24 season, boast an impressive unbeaten home record at the Kwame Kyei Sports Complex, with 10 wins and five draws. 

FC Samartex, despite a tough first season, managed an outstanding home record with 15 wins out of 16 matches at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena.

Vision FC's promotion journey was marked by resilience and determination, overcoming strong challenges from Na God FC, Attram De Visser, and Hohoe United, and securing their spot with a decisive 2-1 victory over Uncle T United. 

As they step into the Premier League, Vision FC will need to strengthen their squad and improve their facilities to meet the top flight's rigorous demands. 

Their ability to adapt quickly will be crucial in avoiding the fate of many newly promoted teams that struggled in their debut season.

In Zone Two, Holy Stars faced stiff competition from former top-flight teams New Edubiase United and Ebusua Dwarfs, along with
Soccer Intellectuals and PAC Academy.

Notably, recent Zone Two entrants, such as Bibiani Gold Stars (2021-22), FC Samartex (2022-23), and Nations FC (2023-24), have all
survived their first Premier League season, setting a hopeful precedent for Holy Stars.

Solidifying their squad and maintaining a strong home record will be crucial for Holy Stars, based in Nzema-Bakase in the Western Region.

Young Apostles will also make their Premier League debut after a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Techiman Heroes in Accra, following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes of play. 

As they step into the top flight, they face the challenge of matching the intensity and skill level of seasoned Premier League teams. 

Their success will largely depend on strategic player recruitment and strong technical management.

Learning from Experience

The experiences of recently promoted teams highlight the importance of preparation and infrastructure. FC Samartex and Nations FC serve as examples of how good player recruitment, a strong technical team and quality facilities can lead to success. 

Nations FC have maintained an unbeaten home record of 10 wins and five draws at the Kwame Kyei Sports Complex, Abrankese, in their debut season, while FC Samartex boast 15 home wins out of 16 matches — the best home streak this season — at their fortress, Nsenkyire Sports Arena, Samreboi, despite a difficult debut season in the top flight where the 'Timber Giants' still managed the most points at their home venue.

Conversely, teams such as Tamale City and Kotoku Royals have struggled due to poor preparation and inadequate facilities. Real Tamale United's recent relegation after three seasons in the Ghana Premier League emphasises the difficulties new teams face. 

However, Accra Lions, that joined the Premier League in the same season, have managed to retain their status, showing that survival is achievable with the right approach.

Over the last three seasons, only Tamale City and Kotoku Royals have faced relegation in their debut seasons. In contrast, Accra Lions, Real Tamale United, Bibiani Gold Stars, FC Samartex, and Nsoatreman FC have all survived their first topflight campaigns, demonstrating that while the journey is challenging, it is not insurmountable.

Future

As Vision FC, Basake Holy Stars, and Young Apostles prepare for their Premier League debuts, their focus will be on strengthening their squads, enhancing their facilities and ensuring thorough preparation for the challenges ahead. 

Their performances next season will be closely watched as they aim to establish themselves in Ghana's topflight football and avoid the pitfalls that have troubled many newly promoted teams.