Arsenal fans must blame themselves if they get relegated

Berekum Arsenals’ home invincibility in the past made them one of the strongest sides in the Ghanaian league and their performance seemed to depict the era of the unbeaten Arsenal of the English Premier League. They were the eye of Brong Ahafo football until the introduction of immediate past league champions Aduana Stars and the reigning champions Chelsea.

Many were of the view that it was the will of the powers that be to cause the relegation of Arsenal last season in order to enhance the purported reduction of the number of clubs in Brong Ahafo but what I’ve seen of their matches since the commencement of the Glo Premier League has changed my thoughts and l must say that their problem can only be attributed to their teeming supporters, who out of rage caused an abrupt end of a league match last season which resulted in a three match home ban.

Arsenal are financially controlled by only one man, Alhaji Yakubu Moro, who out of his sweat the team was doing well until this rowdy attitude of his supporters. Any loving supporter of a team won’t cause the team to lose its home grounds through hooliganism but rather give positive support in physical, spiritual and financial means. What the supporters did affirmed the circulated rumor around the country that the Berekum Golden City Park is the most hooligan centre in our league.

We were among those sports analysts who openly criticized some of the behavior of Arsenal supporters and in all these Yakubu Moro thought I didn't like the team and now what are we seeing? Their performance from last season that they narrowly survived relegation has since dwindled. Many people will cite lack of good materials in the team’s camp, which to me is also a good point though but that alone cannot make a great team like Arsenal who know how to select good players from scratch would struggle like this.

Besides, if it was lack of good materials, Yakubu Moro wouldn't have once come out to question the criteria used in selecting players to the national teams because he felt most of his players at one point in time deserve national team call.

Another good school of thought would also suggest that Yakubu Moro should once again call back the former General Secretary of the club, Kwadwo Takyi Arhin to his rank. To me, this too is not the solution because Takyi Arhin has lost touch with the game ever since he was sacked from B/A Stars as CEO.

With all these factors, I still stand on my point that the problem is about hooliganism. Yakubu Moro should control his supporters. Chelsea are in the same venue with Arsenal but how many times have any one heard any bad incident from Chelsea supporters? Azigiza, chief supporter of Chelsea, well done.

Radio stations in Berekum have a lot to do; they should hit hard to advice Arsenal supporters without fear or favour. Agoro FM led by Dennis and Shalom FM led by Koffi must this season condemn such acts when it happens.

The moment a team gets a home-ban as a result of hooliganism in Brong Ahafo, that team gets relegation as its punishment. You can talk of traditional B/A United and even B/A Stars as examples.

Brong Ahafo need all the existing 3 premier league teams’ positions maintained this season. I did not mention Bechem United because lack of advice will send them to relegation, you can't play your home matches in Kumasi to survive in the league. Kotoko will also receive their share of the cake on Sunday because Bechem are donators of points. It will be 3 matches, no point.

Another factor that nearly escaped me is Arsenal should also avoid superstition, they should play the game with clean mental attitude and hard training. A word to the wise is -----------

*Credit: Raymond Yeboah / www.sportsinghana.com*