El Mehalla In Town

Kumasi Asante Kotoko's opponents in Sunday's African Cup Winners quarterfinal first leg touched down in Accra at dawn today and should have arrived in Kumasi as you read this piece.

Mahala's 29-man delegation of players and officials were flown to Kumasi by a Ghana Airforce plane following their insistence that Kotoko flies them as per Confederation of African Football regulations.

Mahala will be hosted at the prestigious Hotel Georgia in Kumasi and are expected to plunge into training almost immediately.

Mahala's arrival has brought into question the issue of Saturday's league match involving Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi King Faisal scheduled for the Kumasi Sports Stadium.

CAF regulations are clear that the visiting team should be allowed to train on the pitch for the match at least 24 hours before kick off. The FA and Asante Kotoko will be held liable should the match in any way inconvenience Mahala's training schedule which cannot be dictated to them.

At the time of going to press unconfirmed reports had it that the FA and the Professional League Board were deliberating on the matter and a statement on that effect may be issued today.