All Eyes On Kotoko & Hearts

A flurry of activities to ensure a trouble-free encounter between Ghana's footballing titans, Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko began last week. The managements of the two teams and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) are meeting to plan strategy on how to ensure an incident free league match between the two leading clubs scheduled for this weekend, September 16, 2001. Both teams have asked for efficient security measures to be put in place to protect players and supporters of both clubs.

The new Minister for Youth and Sports, Mr Papa Owusu Ankomah no doubt sees the Hearts-Kotoko match as his first major assignment since taking office, and does not want to goof it. He is therefore at the centre of all the planning taking place to avoid what happened on May 9, this year at the Accra Sports Stadium when 129 football fans died during a stampede after a Hearts-Kotoko match.

What is at stake is whether the supporters of both clubs can put up "their best behaviour before, during and after the match, and to accept the outcome of the match in the true spirit of sportsmanship." The issue of good officiating is also being tackled, for any action by any official deemed to be biased could cause a flare-up.

A communiqu? has already been signed last Thursday by Messrs Ato Ahwoi and Herbert Mensah, Chairmen of Hearts of Oak and Kotoko respectively and Mr Ben Kwofie, to set up a joint committee to implement the measures and to refer to the Ministry of Youth and Sports any problems in the implementation.

The raucous Ghanaian media, which some people claim to have helped build up tensions leading to the tragedy of May 9, have been particularly appealed to, to desist from making any inflammatory publications that could stir passions.

The National Chapters Committee (NCC) of the Accra Hearts of Oak Supports Union last Friday appealed to the media to desist from negative reportage likely to mar the Hearts-Kotoko epic match. Mr Joseph Ato Quagrine, Chairman of the NCC said much as they appreciate the support from the media, some sensational headlines or unmonitored phone-in programmes could instigate fans against each other. This appeal once more calls into question the media's responsibility which of late has been receiving much public disapproval.

The next few days would therefor be a testing time for the whole country since no one wants anything resembling what happened on May 9, 2001 to be repeated.