Photo Credit - Asante Kotoko.
Ghana Premier League giants, Asante Kotoko have stood their ground of ceasing all football activities for the senior team until further notice.
The Porcupine Warriors’ stance come following the death of its staunch supporter, Frimpong Yaw Francis, during the Week 19 Premier League game at Nsoatreman in the Bono Region.
A scuffle broke out on the field of play which extended to attending supporters of both clubs at the Nana Konamansah II Stadium on Sunday. Yaw Francis, popularly known as “Pooley”, was stabbed by an assailant and eventually succumbed to his injuries near the stadium.
The action has sent shock waves among football fans in Ghana, leading to Kotoko halting all football activities until further notice.
Owner and bankroller of Nsoatreman, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, has been arrested as a result to help investigate the matter.
Part of a press statement released by Kotoko on Tuesday, February 4 states that: “All footballing activities of the senior team are on hold until further notice. Our stance remains unchanged. We will not resume footballing duties until justice is served and concrete steps are taken to prevent such barbaric acts from ever happening again.”
Asante Kotoko statement.
“Management has decided to suspend all activities relating to football on the pitch until investigations into the matter. However, our juvenile team and players recovering from injuries who require rehab will be allowed at our training centre.
“This is not just about Asante Kotoko, it is about Ghana football as a whole and we will not relent until the right thing is done.” Part of the statement read.
The record Ghana Premier League holders lost 1-0 to Nsoatreman on the day, failing to consolidate their points at the top of the league table. They level on 34 points with Gold Stars after match day 19.
In the same vein, Nsoatreman have equally resolved to withdraw from the Ghana Premier League pending investigation into the incident that marred the game.
Spokesperson for Nsoatreman, Joel Kofi Gyempeh in a radio interview said: "It's true, our withdrawal from the league wouldn't prevent the investigations from going on. Currently, investigations are going on and we've left everything in the hands of the Police Service," Gyempeh said.
"I think there wouldn't be any moral right for us to continue with it again and there's another twist, the deceased is married to the sister of our club chairman, so he's feeling the pain," he added.
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