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Soccer News of Saturday, 31 May 2003

Source: gna

We have tasted our last home defeat - RTU

Mr Adam Munkaila Nassam, Vice Chairman of Real Tamale United (RTU), on Thursday said the team had tasted its last defeat at home and would henceforth beat any team that visited Bolgatanga by not less than three goals.

Mr Nassam told the GNA Sports in Tamale that the team had lost five key players including a goalkeeper, which is affecting the team hence losing two consecutive times at Bolgatanga.

He mentioned the five players as Hamza Mohamed, Kwame Agbaza, Faisal Sulemana, Razak Kluvi and Sulemana Abukari (the goalkeeper), who were very instrumental to the team's success last year.

He said RTU has recruited seven players who were yet to shine like those the team lost this year to other clubs but insisted, "come what may, RTU will stand all hardships and swim through the league as we have always done".

Mr Nassam said apart from losing key players the team went through a lot of stress and fatigue before embarking on matches making it very difficult to place well in the league table saying, "we travel more than any other team in the league but we always manage to stay in the league season after season".

He said the state of emergency in Dagbon was also affecting them seriously since they could not get more time to train particularly when they return from Accra or Takoradi by road.

He appealed to supporters and fans, particularly those in the Upper East and Upper West Regions, to remain calm and patient and lend their support for the team which belongs to the three Northern Regions.

"With moral support from supporters in Bolgatanga and other places in the North, our RTU will demoralise any team that comes to Bolgatanga", he said.

He urged the supporters to forget about the two loses and think about impending matches.

Mr Nassam disclosed that RTU would celebrate its Silver Jubilee soon and the team would need the support of the Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who is one of its founding fathers.

He said the club would soon release a programme of activities to mark the 25th anniversary and called on all supporters within and outside Tamale to contribute towards the celebration.