Berekum Golden City Park not suitable for premiership

Accra, Sept. 11, GNA - In the midst of the poor performance exhibited by Berekum Arsenals in the ongoing Glo Top Four Tournament, some stakeholders in soccer have described the Berekum Golden City Park as unsuitable for the premiership as it affords them undue advantage in the national league.

The Golden City Park is the home venue of Arsenal Football club which has been a venue that has seen many varied accusations by visiting teams.

David Duncan, former head coach of Ashgold said the bumpy nature of the pitch is not good enough for football as it makes ball control a difficult task for players.

He told GNA Sports in an interview that visiting Clubs are mostly terrified by the home fans who he alleged employ intimidating tactics on players, club officials and referee because they are very close to the pitch.

Duncan added that poor security arrangement at the Park also contributes to the woes of visiting Clubs as it is almost impossible to win a game at the "famous" Park.

Arsenals, since joining the premiership have recorded most of their wins at the Golden City Park but hardly win in away matches. The outspoken coach who once called for the closure of the pitch feels vindicated by the performance of the Club in the ongoing Top Four Tournament, which is underway at the Baba Yara stadium, Kumasi and the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

Arsenals have so far managed only two draws from the five games played in the competition and occupy the bottom with two points. "One wonders what they did extraordinarily to place third last season because their performance in the Glo Top Four clearly confirms what some of us called for some years back." Coach Duncan said the Professional League Board (PLB) should consider shifting the team to the Sunyani Coronation Park to afford all Clubs equal advantage.

"If Clubs like Real Sportive and Tema Youth once adopted the Cape Coast Stadium as their home venues, I don't see why Arsenals should still be playing at the Golden City Park since it is not up to standard."

Sabhan Quaye, Team Manager of Accra Hearts of Oak also told GNA Sports that there was the need for soccer loving fans to visit the Park to understand the true situation on the ground. "Due to the poor security system at the place, visiting Clubs are intimidated before, during and after games and one can definitely not win a match at such a venue. "Referees are not left out they are equally intimidated, rendering them ineffective and forced to give unfair decisions." Quaye lamented. He said until the venue is put in a better shape, visiting clubs will continue to suffer all forms of inhuman activities at the Berekum Golden City Park.

"Their performance in the Top Four vindicates us all. If it had been at Berekum things would have been different because of the poor nature of the pitch and intimidation among others", Quaye noted. Isaac Opeele Boateng, head coach of Tema Youth who shared similar views said that most players think of their lives before the start of the game at the venue and would prefer to stay alive than to win at the Golden City Park.

This, he said, was largely due to intimidation by supporters on opposing teams in addition to the poor nature of the pitch. "My club suffered similar fate last season. "If you examine the league table critically and the pattern of their performance, one would have no doubt that they were aided mostly by the undue home advantage." He said. Coach Opeele, however, disagreed with those suggesting the change of venue for the "Gunners" saying football offers the local people some form of entertainment and revenue and such a move will be a denial of those benefits.

Oduro Sarfo, an official of Arsenals however vehemently disagreed with the views and said "we won two matches away last season at Abrankese and Swedru and drew seven of our matches away. "Those making such assertions are therefore not justified." According to the Arsenal official, the club's position on the League table last season was on merit. Sarfo however reckoned that they would have done better in the Top Four tournament if they had played their home games at the Golden City Park.

"This is because we are very comfortable there. We are used to the pitch. And with the massive backing of the supporters our boys perform better."

Sarfo said the performance of the Club in the Top Four has provided them the opportunity to assess the team and to prepare adequately for the coming season.