Coach Karim Zito selected Fatau Dauda over celebrated former Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Sammy Adjei.
In defence the ex-Asante kotoko coach opted for Frank Amankwah, Amankwaah Mireku, Agyemang Duah and Emmauel Armah.
Zito prefer Asante Kotoko duo of Yussif Alhassan Chibsah and Jordan Opoku in the heart of the midfield, with Charles Taylor and Bernard Dong Bortey in the right and left midfield respectively.
The Dreams FC coach paraded the attacking duo of the 2000 Hearts of Oak CAF Champions winning team in the persons of Emmanuel Osei Kuffour and Ishmael Addo up front.
Contrary to Coach Karim Zito’s Ghana Premier League all-time XI, Coach Ebenezer Sefah who has vast knowledge of the Ghanaian topflight league as a scout and pundit settled on Sammy Adjei in post.
He selected a backline of Yaw Owusu, Frank Amankwaah, Shilla Illiasu and Agyemang Duah.
In a 4-4-2 formation he named Adjah Tetteh as the central midfielder, whereas he selected Eben Hagan, Emanuel Osei Kuffour and Robert Boateng as the attacking midfielders.
In attack, Sefah who scouted for clubs such as Asante Kotoko and Ashanti Gold as they won the Ghana Premier League opted for the Hearts of Oak duo of Charles Taylor and Ishmael Addo.
The notable absentee from Coach Ebenezer Sefah’s list is Bernard Dong Bortey who is touted as one of the finest players to have graced the Ghana Premier League.
Aside from the area of goalkeeper, other departments of the game that the two coaches had divergent opinions was in defense, while Zito preferred Amankwah Mireku as his left full-back, Coach Eben opted for Yaw Owusu and in the Centre pair, the renowned scout partnered Agyemang Duah with Shilla Illiasu, while the Dreams FC coach settled on Agyemang Duah and Emmanuel Armah as the centre pair.
Charles Taylor appeared on both coaches list, but they played him in different roles: Coach Zito preferred using Osei Kuffour as an attacker, but coach Eben utilized him as a midfielder, whereas Zito drafted Taylor to the midfield, Coach Eben unleashed him on the defenders playing as a forward.
In midfield while Coach Karim Zito named Chibsah, Jordan Opoku and Dong Boartey, coach Eben settled on Adjah Tetteh, Eben Hagan, Robert Boateng.
Fatau Dauda:
Dauda, who had a successful career with Okwawu United and Ashanti Gold, during which he won the Ghana Premier League with the Miners in 2015.
During his time on the domestic scene, Dauda's impressive performances earned him a place in the Black Stars - he featured in the 2008, 2013 and 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Duncan chose him ahead of Sammy Adjei, who is one of the finest goalkeepers to have graced the Ghana Premier League.
Yaw Owusu
He was a solid right full-back who was very effective in executing his job.
Yaw Owusu combined flawless defending to enterprising attacking play to his role as a lateral defender.
Yaw Owusu following years of proving his worth at Asante Kotoko completed a move to Goldfields now Ashanti Gold in 1995 and he helped the Miners to win the league that very season.
He was also key as the Miners made history as one of the first two clubs to reach the final of the CAF Champions League in 1997- they, however, lost on penalties against Raja Casablanca of Morocco.
Yaw Owusu also contributed his quota to the national team: he was a member of the Black Stars during his heydays, but he never represented Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Frank Amankwah
Bayereba, as he was affectionately called by the Ghanaian football loving fans, was not only Ghana's best right full-back, but he was the finest in his position on the African continent. Frank Amakwah joined Asante Kotoko from Kumapem and helped the Porcupine Warriors wIn the 1993 Ghana Premier League before the change over from amateur league to professional football in 1993/1994 season.
His overlapping, crosses and incisive passes when surging forward was amazing and because of his speed, he could easily trackback to support in defensive duties. Those couldn't watch Frank Amankwah can liken his work rate to that of Roberto Carlos in his prime. He is widely regarded as the best right full back Ghana has ever seen.
During his days in the Premier League, he cemented his place in THE starting berth, featuring for the Black Stars in 1994 and 1996 AFCONs. In 1994 despite Ghana's early exit from the continent's showpiece, his individual effort earned him a place in the all-star team of the tournament alongside Abedi Pele as the two Ghanaians who made the list.
READ MORE: David Duncan includes Charles Taylor, Dong Bortey in his all-time GPL XI, as he snubs Ishmael Addo
Amankwaah Mireku
Osofo as he was affectionately called by his playing mate, marshalled the left full-back position very well, despite being a right-footed player.
He combined both attacking and tracking back very effectively to offer more in attack as well as quickly drawing back to provide stability to the defence.
Amankwah Mieku won six league titles with Hearts of Oak and he was instrumental as the Phobians emerged as African Champions in 2000 in a year they won every single title they competed for.
Mireku again captained Hearts of Oak as they won the CAF Confederations Cup against their bitterest rivals Asante Kotoko in January 2005.
The former Hearts of Oak skipper’s performance and consistency earned him a call-up to the Black Stars and he became a key member of the team from 2000 to 2004.'
Emmanuel Armah
The centre-back was a robust and hard-tackling defender. His tackles put fears in a lot of strikers during his heydays. He had a similar quality as Frimpong Manso and many Ghanaian football-loving fans believed that when partnering the two at the back, you can go to sleep, because your defensive area will be protected so far as they play together. Armah won three Ghana Premier League titles with Hearts of Oak.
He was part of the Black Stars that finished runners-up during the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal: His impressive display during the tournament earned him his nickname Armah 'Senegal'
Agyemang Duah
Rambo, as he was nicknamed, was a solid centre back and a very difficult one to beat.
Agyemang Duah won the Ghana Premier League title with AshGold and Hearts of Oak and before that he was part of the Kotoko team that won the 1993 league.
He was also played in three CAF Champions League final. He was at the losing end at Kotoko in 1993 and AshGold in 1997, but he finally clinched the trophy with Hearts of Oak in 2000.
Agyemang Duah was a regular member of the Black Stars in his prime in the Ghana Premier League, representing Ghana in the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
In midfield, Ibrahim Tanko gave the nod to four ex-Hearts of Oak players: he paired Adjah Tetteh and Emmanuel Osei Kuffour in the central midfield, whereas he deployed Dong Bortey and Charles Taylor to the right and left midfield, respectively.
Shilla Illiasu
Shilla Illiasu had a good reading of the ball and very difficult to beat, providing cover for the goalkeeper.
He had a successful career with King Faisal and he rose to prominence after he joined Asante Kotoko in 2005.
Illiasu helped Asante Kotoko to win the Ghana Premier League in 2005 and after establishing himself as a solid centre bak on the domestic scene he was handed an opportunity to join Black Stars.
In the 2006 FIFA World Cup whiles with the Porcupine Warriors, he emerged as one of the stars of the tournament, combining very well with John Mensah as Ghana earned the results against the Czech Republic and the USA, before losing in the quarter-finals against Brazil.
Adjah Tetteh
He was a workaholic midfielder for the Hearts of Oak. Tetteh was ball winner and his retention of the ball was superb.
Adjah Tetteh Tetteh's presence always eased pressure on the centre backs by doing o a lot of interceptions in the heart of the midfield.
He joined Hearts of Oak from Dawu Youngsters and played a key role as the Phobians won the Ghanaian topflight league six times.
Adjah Tetteh played a crucial role as Hearts of Oak clinched a treble in 2000, winning the CAF Champions league, league and the FA Cup, before winning the Super Cup in 2001.
The central midfielder also won the CAF Confederations Cup with the Accra giants scoring the all-important late minute equalizer that threw the final into a penalty shootout against Asante Kotoko.
Yussif Alhassan Chibsah
He is one of the products of Alhaji Grusah’s King Faisal
Yussif Chibsah played as a central midfielder- he was a ball winner, able to hold on to the ball to retain possession and a good passer of the ball.
Chibsah played for King Faisal from 1999 to 2003, before joining Asante Kotoko. At Kotoko, he became very crucial to the midfield of the Porcupine Warriors and contributed immensely as they won the Ghana Premier League in 2005.
He was also a member of the Asante Kotoko team that suffered a defeat in the final of the CAF Confederation Cup in 2004 which the final was played in January 2005.
Chibsah also played for the national teams of Ghana: he played for the Black Stars and even represented the Black Meteors in the 2004 summer Olympics in Athens.
Jordan Opoku
Opoku is a product of Feyenoord Fetteh, Opoku gained promotion to play for the youth team of Fetteh's mother club Feyenoord where he had the chance to undergo the same training as former Ivory Coast and Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou. Opoku spent some time at Dutch club Excelsior and Belgian club Royal Antwerp FC before returning to Ghana.
Jordan Opoku is one of the most creative midfielders in the history of the Ghana Premier League. His style of play could be likened to the likes of Iniesta and Xavi: Opoku’s dribbles, skills, dazzles, control and visionary passes make him an exceptional player in the middle of the park.
Jordan Opoku joined Asante Kotoko from Feyenoord and became an instant hit. He helped the Porcupine Warriors to claim the 2007/2008 Ghana Premier League.
He excelled with Berekum Chelsea in Africa as the reached the group stage of the CAF Champions League in 2012.
He returned to Asante Kotoko in 2013 and helped the Kumasi giants to win the 2013/2014 GPL.
Charles Taylor
The mercurial midfielder was delight to watch with his effective dribbles and runs. Many rate him as one of the best dribblers Ghana has produced in the past 20 years. He added goal scoring too to his play emerging as joint GPL top scorer in the 2002 with 18 goals.
After joining Hearts of Oak from Great Olympics, he won three Ghana Premier League titles, before moving to Kotoko in 2003. The mercurial midfielder helped the Kumasi giants to win their first Ghana Premier League in his debut season, following a controversial transfer saga which prolonged for some time before it went through for GHC 120,000 (Still a Ghanaian record for transfer between two clubs on the domestic scene). He was part of the Hearts of Oak team that swept everything in 2000, winning the CAF Champions League, Ghana Premier League and the FA Cup, which was a historic treble.
Dong Bortey
‘The Serial killer’ he was affectionately called by his fams was remarkable in the Ghana Premier League and the toast of most Hearts of Oak fans. He carved a niche for himself as a big-game player, especially his influence in Hearts games against their rivals Kotoko was second to none.
Dong Bortey joined the Phobians from Tema Ghapoha in 2001. He became key in the scheme of things of the Accra giants and helped them to win the league in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006/2007 and 2008/2009.
Bortey also had a short stint with Aduana Stars.
Robert Boateng
He was a very good dribbler. His favourite position was left-wing and he would cut in to support the attack by either shortening the defence or delivering incisive crosses with his left foot.
He spent most of his playing days in the Ghana Premier League with Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
Boateng was a member of the Black Stars while at Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
Emmanuel Oseir Kuffour
He is arguably the greatest player in the Ghana Premier League history. He started playing in the GPL in the 1993/1994 with Dwarfs as a defender before he was transformed into an attacking midfielder and later forward. Osei Kuffour featured in the GPL until the 2007/2008 season when he captained Asante Kotoko to win the Ghanaian topflight league, making him the longest-serving player in the professional league.
He won five league titles with Hearts of Oak and a league title with Asante Kotoko, making him one of the most decorated players in the GPL.
Kuffour’s leadership qualities were awesome and had the opportunity to captain the Black Stars during the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). He was a schemer cum scorer as well. Hearts of Oak owe their 2000 CAF Champions League title to him - he scored 10 goals to win the top scorer of the competition.
Ishmael Addo
He is the greatest scorer in the history of the Ghana Premier League (GPL). Ishmael Addo was a striker who was the ball-playing type, but he had a good vision at goal and his positioning was second to none in the opponents’ goal area.
He won the Ghana Premier League top scorer in 1999 after being promoted from the junior side, bagging 16 goals.
Addo registered 19 goals the following season and in 2001 he recorded 22 goals which is the highest goal tally in a single GPL season.
He has paid his dues at the national team level. In 1999 during the FIFA U-17 World Cup, he emerged as the top scorer as Ghana placed third and he has also had the opportunity to play for the Black Stars, but, he failed to translate his devastating form at club level to the national team.
Procedure
The Ghana Premier League all-time XI is a campaign by Pulse Ghana to settle on the finest players who have paid their dues to domestic football in the country since the inception of professional football on 19th December 1993.
Ghana Sports Historian and Statistician Thomas Freeman Yeboah in his research came up with about 50 players who have been outstanding in the Ghanaian topflight league from 1993 up to date.
The list was presented to Coaches, retired and current football administrators and journalists and other well-meaning sports enthusiasts to help the exercise.
They were, however, at liberty to include any player whom they consider worthy of a place in the team, though not captured in the pool of prospective players for the Ghana Premier League all-time XI.
Criteria
(1) Players who have excelled during the period from 19 December 1993 to date were considered.
(2) Contribution to teamwork
(3) Individual brilliance
(4)Consistency
(5) Silverware won by the players
(6) Impact and influence
(7) National team assignment for the player during this period.
It should be noted that the views of about ten renowned coaches, journalists, football administrators have been taken into consideration in our quest to establish the Ghana Premier League finest XI of all-time.