F.A Cup Final Venue: Kumasi?

The FA cup final on December 7 may see a change of venue for the first time in the competition. This comes on the heels of the qualification of two Kumasi based clubs for the match, which according to Ghana Football Association’s regulations must be played in Accra.

Asante Kotoko and King Faisal on Wednesday qualified for the grand finale of 2001 competition by beating Ebusua Dwarfs and Goldfields respectively. Soccer fans have questioned the logic of playing the match in Accra when both teams are Kumasi-based.

Furthermore, the capacity of the Kumasi Stadium is much bigger than Accra Sports Stadium, whose capacity was further reduced after 126 people died in a soccer match at the stadium on May 9. The chairman of the Professional League Board, Sylvester Mensah told myjoyonline that concerns being raised by soccer fans are logical and worth considering.

“It is likely the two clubs will petition the GFA over changing the venue for the final match and I’m sure their reasons will be logical. But the rules clearly stipulate that all finals should be played in Accra. We may have to think of the likely consequences of shifting the game to Kumasi. We will however hear their cases and decide appropriately,” he said.