Sunyani, July 06, GNA – Mr. Ransford Antwi, a former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of B/A United Football Club (FC) has said his disagreement with a section of the football fraternity who have asserted that Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s support for Real Tamale United (RTU) FC amounts to political interference.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Monday in Sunyani, Mr. Antwi who is the Founder and CEO of Sunyani-based Suncity FM Radio argued that Dr. Bawumia’s assistance to RTU ahead of a crucial Division One League encounter with BA United on Sunday must rather be understood as his contribution to the progress of Ghana Football.
“Ghana Football indeed needs the likes of Dr. Bawumia to offer the financial injection and to help whip up fans interest in the game,” Mr. Antwi stated.
»To openly donate money demonstrates his love and support for his local club which is a beautiful thing, and good for the growth of Ghana Football worthy of emulation,” he added.
Mr. Antwi suggested that to avoid chaotic situations and unpleasant incidents in Ghana Football as it happened on Sunday between B/A United and RTU “It’s up to the leadership of the FA to formulae the right policies, apply the rules fairly, and pick competent match officials to ensure the prevalence of justice and fair play for the growth of the game »,
He also charged the sons and daughters of the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regions, “who are political heavyweights, to rather emulate Dr. Bawumia, donate and openly demonstrate their affection and support for their local clubs, instead of some football fans trying to make political capital from his gesture”.
Mr. Antwi condemned football fans who took the law into their hands at the Sunyani Coronation Park on Sunday, but was quick to admit that the performance of match officials on the day were abysmal and a great disservice to the game.
In a related development, the GNA has gathered that Referee Maxwell Hanson who officiated the Division-One matchday 27 between B/A United and RTU but ended abruptly after the first 45 minutes left for Kumasi and proceeded to Accra on Sunday evening, though he had assured the match was going to be continued at 1000 hours on Monday.
Following Referee Hanson’s promise of the match continuation, B/A United’s players and officials reported to the Sunyani Coronation Park at 0910 hours on Monday but both the Referee Hanson, RTU players and their officials did not turn up.
In view of the sudden end of the game, stones and other objects that were hurled unto the pitch by a section of the spectators, according to eye-witnesses contributed to Referee Hanson’s refusal to continue to officiate the match to an end.
But the hooliganism by those spectators resulted from an allegedly unjustifiable penalty awarded against B/A United by Referee Hanson, a decision he rescinded after consulting one of his two assistants, the eye-witness said.
