MTN Ashantifest Community Soccer: Suame, Bantama oust Tafo, Abrepo

There will be new champions of the MTN Ashantifest Community Soccer tournament in 2023 after last year’s winners, Tafo and the maiden titlists in 2021, Abrepo were both kicked out in the very opening round of Zone C over the weekend as Suame and Bantama grabbed the two available slots in the section to the next round.

Suame did in fact, seal the coffin of Tafo courtesy a brilliant 3-1 mauling in their decisive match 3 clash of the 2-day competition which rocked the State Girls Kokoase Park in Abrepo on Friday and Saturday to win Zone C and condemn the hitherto champs to third spot and elimination.

Side attractions in Zone C included Black Stars defender, Kassim Adams featuring for Abrepo and former Kotoko hitman, Augustine Okrah in the tick of affairs for Bantama.

Suame had kicked off the campaign by grinding out all three points via a crucial 1-0 win over former champs and hosts, Abrepo before holding Bantama to a goalless stalemate in their second game, as a result of which they amassed seven points in total to top Zone C of course.

The second qualifying ticket to the quarter finals of the 16-team tournament was picked by Bantama who also went unbeaten, drawing their opening two games against Tafo and Suame before strolling past Abrepo 2-0 in their final game to gain 5 points.

Tafo and Abrepo will have to try again next year after both going winless amid their match two clash ending 0-0, meaning the two and one points garnered respectively weren’t enough for them to qualify to the money zone this term.

For Suame and Bantama, the dream to annex the ultimate trophy and twenty thousand Ghana Cedis cash prize remains very alive as they join Ejisu, Amakom, Dichemso and Ashtown in the last 8 of the 2-month long competiton.

Meanwhile, the final two slots are up for a fight at the Atonsu Astro Turf Park this weekend when Atonsu, Adum, Santasi and Kwadaso battle it out in Zone D.