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Soccer News of Saturday, 21 June 2003

Source: Soccer Express

Kumasi Fans Unhappy With Stars' Security

The ironclad security detail of the senior national soccer team, the Black Stars has been a major source of worry to the majority of the supporters of the team in Kumasi.

Such has been the disenchantment of the fans that if the Stars' security fail to take a more friendly stance towards the supporters, there will be a boycott of a sort on Sunday when the Stars play the Cranes from Uganda.

Soccer Express gathered after last Wednesday's trial match between Asante Kotoko and the Black Stars at the Kumasi Sports Stadium that the Kumasi fans who seldom see their idols in the national team, especially the foreign-based ones were rudely dealt with by the security detail of the team.

The fans claim that their eagerness to get close to the players was not meant to pose any danger to their idols but was only meant to see them at close range and to possibly offer them words of encouragement, but the security dealt with them as though they were people from another planet.

Subsequently, a section of them who spoke to this paper called on the Stars' handlers to employ more humane and friendly people to provide security for the team on Sunday to forestall a re-occurrence of last Wednesday's experience. In another development, a section of supporters of the Stars have expressed grave concern over how some unscrupulous people are seen selling tickets to the public above the face value of the said tickets. They have since called for stricter measures on Sunday.