Kotoko Express journalist, Jerome Otchere has told BBC Sports that, the decision by the Kumasi Police to transport Kotoko players in their armoured vehicle after Sunday’s CAF Champions League 2-1 loss to Eulma was necessary.

According to Jerome who spoke to the BBC on Easter Monday, the police reaction was to pre-empt any bad situation at the stadium. He narrated what he saw at the stadium to the BBC.

“Just after the game, when Kotoko lost 2-1 to the Algerian side, the supporters felt very disappointed and converged at the entrance of the mixed zone where the players were going to come out…

“They waited for the Kotoko team to come out, they never did… The Police wanted to pre-empt any problem…They brought their armoured vehicle inside the stadium and took the Kotoko players away to prevent the fans from even getting close to them” he said.

When asked if he sensed danger because of the supporters’ reaction, Jerome Otchere said: “I think anything could have happened given what the history has been…Given the history of crowd violence in Ghana, the police just wanted to pre-empt any nasty situation. I think it was a good effort on their part”.

As to whether the move by the police was an over-reaction, Jerome added: “To some extent. I felt they could have driven the supporters out of the stadium because I have seen them do that before… People have been talking about it. Some feel the police overreacted. Others also think it was a good decision on their part”.

Asked if he thought there was insecurity at match venues in Ghana, the Kotoko reporter pointed out that, “It isn’t too much of a problem until something happens…I think we have gotten to the point where we have to be speaking to spectators to understand that, football is just a game and irrespective of what is at stake you have to accept defeat and go home quietly”.