Obuasi, Feb 27, GNA - Ashanti Gold Sporting Club, Ghana's only hope in this year's CAF/MTN Champions League is poised to trash ASFAR of Morocco on Sunday to bring back the smiles on the faces of their supporters and also keep the country and entire township alive. "A decade is a long time enough for us to bring the smiles back on the faces of our supporters and the entire Obuasi township", Mr Kudjoe Fianoo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Club told the press in an interview on Tuesday.
He said "We hope to record a convincing good win on Sunday to make the return encounter less burdensome for us".
Mr Fianoo who was reacting as to what Ghanaians should expect from Ashgold on Sunday, said his players are poised to play very well and win convincingly.
The CEO added that knowing the stuff the North Africans are made off in Club level competitions, Management has accepted to maintain the players in a well-motivated mood.
"Management's acceptance to play in the African Champions League where financial constraints prevented some clubs from participating in such prestigious competition, is in itself a motivation for the players", he said.
Mr Fianoo said the opportunity has presented the players a bigger platform for them to demonstrate their skills to the outside world. He said Ashgold is a Club that can pride itself for not being in arrears in terms of players' bonus. "It is therefore left to the players to deliver", he added.
Mr Fianoo commended the players for their outstanding performance against the Equitorial Guinean side, Renacimento that enabled the Club to reach this stage of the competition.
"Apart from George Owu and Joe Hendricks, the rest of the players are new to the Champions League and therefore we need to commend them especially for winning in far away Equitorial Guinea", the CEO added. Mr Fianoo said the only way the supporters can contribute to the victory of the Club on Sunday, was for them to fill the stands in their numbers and stand solidly behind the team to cheer up the players to chalk up the needed success.
The CEO however pleaded with the supporters to comport themselves before, during and after the match, adding that, "A single throw of a sachet of water or a missile unto the pitch could attract a fine of 5,000 dollars".
He emphasized that "at this difficult times, we cannot entertain such avoidable expenditure".
He praised management of AngloGold Ashanti for accepting to foot the bills of the Club during the Champions League and said "we believe that the support would not go down the drain". Meanwhile, ASFAR are expected to arrive on Thursday at 7 am in Kumasi with a chartered Airforce plane. Mr Fianoo told the GNA Sports that the 38-man contingent would lodge at Obuasi Anyinam Lodge and are expected to fly back immediately after the match on Sunday. Kick off time is 2 pm local time. 27 Feb. 07
