Retain Le Roy - Sunyani fans urge GFA

Sunyani (B/A), Feb. 08, GNA - A cross-section of football fans in the Sunyani Municipality have called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) not to terminate the appointment of Black Stars Head Coach Claude Le Roy following the national team's narrow defeat by the Indomitable Lions, of Cameroon in Thursday's semi-final duel of the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament.

Many of those GNA Sports interviewed expressed satisfaction with the general performance and conduct of the team but were however critical about player selection for that particular match. Some of them also expressed concern about delayed changes of players whilst others attributed the defeat to ill luck, saying: "Luck was simply not on our side."

Mr Kwabena Asante, a lotto agent; said: "The Stars were good but I disagree with the replacement of John Mensah with Michael Essien at the central defence.

"The Coach could have brought in Ahmed Barusso for the position to give Essien more room to operate in the midfield", he said.

Mr Kofi Duodu, Brong-Ahafo Regional Sports Development Officer, also commended the performance of the Black Stars but called on the Coach not to rely on foreign-based players alone in building a strong side.

"He can mobilize some local players for such tourneys since they are equally endowed with potentials," Mr Duodu said. Food sellers in Sunyani Municipality complained of losing a lot of their customers and were not able to make their normal sales after the Black Stars defeat to the Indomitable Lions at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

Most of the sellers said not even half of their food were consumed on the night of the match and attributed it to the sadness that engulfed most soccer fans, football enthusiasts and in fact all Ghanaians. Vendors of the Nations Cup paraphernalia are also experiencing marketing problems and expressed doubts if the rest of their goods would be bought.

Mary Agyenim of Samary Fashion Centre in Sunyani told the GNA Sports that she only sold one Cup of Nations tee shirt on Friday as compared to the previous days' sales, which soared when Ghana won its matches.

"All is well that ends well", Eugene Amoah, a student quipped, saying the loss had saved the lives of some people as a victory for the Stars could have meant some recorded deaths and injuries as it happened when Ghana won the other four qualifying matches. He stated that Ghanaians must not blame anybody for the loss since football was all about a win, draw or lose.