Coaltar Hearts and Kotoko in violent match

Kraboa-Coaltar (Eastern Region) -- Tension between Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko manifested last Sunday during a soccer encounter between supporters of the two clubs at an annual Odwira festival at Kraboa-Coaltar when the match ended abruptly as a result of violence.

This could probably be due to the banners, Hearts and Kotoko under which the match was organised because all the 22 players in the game are members and supporters of the same club, Kraboa-Coaltar World Vision F/C, a division three campaigners. Kotoko were leading 2-1 at the time the match came to an abrupt end.

The violence started when local referee George Ansong, who was handling the match allowed a goal by a Kotoko player, Nana Yaw Sinkonia, which was scored from an offside position.

Hearts supporters poured onto the pitch to protest. But for the timely intervention by elders of the town, no one could imagine what could have happened. Hearts opened the score with a penalty expertly taken by Isaac Awuku but it was quickly cancelled by Nii Odai Tiapor of Kotoko to bring the first half scores to 1-1.

Kotoko was also awarded a penalty in the second half, which was taken by Nii Odai Tiapor to bring the scores to 2-1. The organizer, Christopher Hlodai, secretary of the World Vision F/C told the GNA sports that the match could have ended peacefully but for the tag of the two great clubs on the match.