B/A Stars on the warpath and gives ultimatum

Sunyani, (B/A) Oct. 27, GNA - The Management and Board of Directors of B.A Stars Football Club have given the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Professional League Board (PLB) a seven-day ultimatum to right the wrongs against the Club.

They have subsequently called on the two bodies to screen the clips of the three matches that the Club participated in to ascertain the fairness or otherwise of the referees who handled the matches.

Mr Alfred Tuah Yeboah, legal adviser of the Club who addressed a press conference in Sunyani on Tuesday, said the screening of the clips of the matches - two at home (Sunyani) and one away at Essipong stadium near Sekondi in the Western Region) - could win public sympathy against some decisions made by the referees.

B.A. Stars played against Hearts of Oak in Sunyani, New Edubiase in Sunyani and Kessben F/C at Essipong in the current Premier League. Mr Yeboah also dismissed speculations that the Club would announce its withdrawal from the League at the press conference. "We are not going to withdraw from the League. In fact we are going to honour our remaining matches.

We know our supporters might not buy our decision but we are appealing to them to remain resolute behind their dear club", lawyer Tuah said. The Legal adviser complained that poor officiating in each of the three matches robbed B.A. Stars of either the three points in each case or sharing of the points.

"Screening the matches will give the true picture to the public since some sports fans are of the view that some powers are determined to ensure that B.A. Stars is relegated at the end of the current league.

"Managing a football club is not an easy task as it entails money so it is painful when a referee exhibits naked robbery against a team that fought hard to re-enter the Premier League", Mr Yeboah said. On circumstances leading to the purported resignation of Mr Kwadwo Takyi Arhin (aka "Thunder'), the Club's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) about two weeks ago, Mr Yeboah said: "Mr. Arhin might have taken the quit action in view of the 'unseen hands' trying to manipulate B.A. Stars". The legal adviser, however, added that the Board of Directors and Management of the Club had acknowledged Mr Arhin's decision and "plans are afoot to sit down with him for him to reverse his stand".

During question time some of the media personnel urged the management to advise the Club's teeming supporters to refrain from hooliganism and other violent acts during home matches since such behaviour would retard the Club's progress. Mr Yeboah however said the Club has not taken a decision yet as to what it would do should the GFA and PLB refuse to screen the clips of the three matches. He said the Club's management has meanwhile petitioned the Disciplinary Committee of the GFA over what the Club described as unfair officiating in their match against Kessben F/C at Essipong.

"The Club decided to remain silent over the other two matches - against Hearts of Oak and New Edubiase in Sunyani", he added. Present at the meeting were members of the Board of Directors including Dr Samuel Oppong-Yeboah and Mr Peter Nimoh.