|
Politics
Leads To The Postponement Of Cup Final
The finals of the African Confederation Cup match between the two Ghanaian glamorous clubs Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko has been postponed to the 2nd and the 9th of January 2005.
Officials say the move is to avoid a clash with the country’s presidential and parliamentary elections taking place on the 7th December this year.
The continent’s soccer governing body, The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has given its blessing to the decision brewed by the Ghanaian FA to move the two-legged final back to January.
A statement from CAF says it is supporting the Ghanaian football authorities in their decision to ensure sound security and peaceful atmosphere in Ghana especially during this era of electioneering.
Matches between the two rivals have been primarily characterized tension and sometimes riots resulting in the loss of huge public property and human lives.
Some three years ago exactly May 9th 2001, 126 football fans died at the Accra Sports Stadium during a match between the two super clubs. The tragedy was so enormous that the cloud of grief and sorrow continued to haunt soccer fans in Ghana for some time. Some even still harbour that mournful memory of the biggest soccer tragedy in the history of the country.
The postponement comes days after Ghana police warned they might not be able to provide adequate security for the first leg match to be played at the Accra Sport stadium. Unfortunately in Ghana these two clubs who have a long standing rivalry and widespread support across the country, are often also linked to the two most renowned political parties in Ghana.
NANA
More in the current issue..
Back |
