Sports

Fans react to Okraku stakeholder’s meeting… as they’re divided over season continuation

Score of football fans in Accra have reacted diversely to submissions by President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt E.S Okraku, wanting the season to continue.

Mr Okraku is itching for football to return rather than nullifying the season entirely because of the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

The FA President asserts during a stakeholder’s engagement on Happy FM on Wednesday that effacing off the season would trigger untold hardship to the clubs.

However, his assertion was cast off by 27-year-old driver, Moses Quaicoo, who told the Times Sports during a random survey conducted yesterday, that the time was not ripe for football.

“If you ask me, the season should be cancelled; otherwise, the clubs should play in empty stadiums,” he stated.

Many others corroborated Quaicoo’s view but with variations.

For Kwame Sampson, a petty trader – who effortlessly identified himself as a dyed-in-the-wool faithful of Asante Kotoko, “if the FA is bent on going ahead with football after the lifting of ban on public gathering, then they should only allow a few fans, let’s say 1,000 for a 40,000-capacity stadium, for example.”

“Other than that, I suggest the season be called off to prevent the spread of the fatal virus that has affected thousands,” he added.

But a couple of fans were also on the side of the FA President.

“For how long can we allow the coronavirus to wreck our dear football? I think the season can resume by the end of May, just like what the English FA is contemplating to do,” remarked Emmanuel Agyare, an IT expert.

“I totally disagree with the season being called off,” says Lawrence Tetteh, a colt footballer. 

If anything at all, the FA should make it mandatory for every fan to wear a face mask to the stadium and we are ready to go.”   

A young lady fan, Naa Amanua, said it was time for Hearts of Oak to win the Ghana Premier League (GPL) and therefore backs Mr Okraku’s call for resumption of football.

“Whether we like it or not, COVID-19 has come to live with us and it is incumbent on our football administrators to find a way of making us go to the stadium to support our clubs. Perhaps, there can be some strict restrictions at the various stadia.

“It’s been a decade or so when my darling club Hearts won the league. They have a huge opportunity to snatch the trophy this season looking at the quality of players presently in camp. That’s why I support the season to continue,” she stressed.

According to the FA President, if the season is struck out due to the virus, many clubs and its stakeholders will be in turmoil.

“It will be another challenging period for the clubs, referees, match commissioners, if the season is cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“At the lower leagues, football indirectly contributes a lot to the economy. Also with football, sponsors will not continue to bring their money on board. The GFA will lose partners; clubs will also lose their deals with partners and sponsors, players may lose either their contracts or endorsements, fans will also lose that excitement they get when they watch the games,” he told Happy FM.

The GFA has announced that it will take a decision on June 30, 2020 on the future of the 2019/20 football season.

Meanwhile, the eyes of the sports world will feast on Germany’s Bundesliga this weekend as it becomes the first ‘bear-sized’ league to restart in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BY JOHN VIGAH

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