May 9 is a call to stop hooliganism – Thomas Boakye Agyemang

Mr. Thomas Boakye Agyemang, a Premier League Board (PLB) and the Accra representative of Kumasi Asante Kokoko, has appealed to football fans to help in the fight against hooliganism at match venues. Mr Agyemang was speaking to the GNA Sports in an interview at a special ceremony to commemorate the May 9 disaster in Accra on Wednesday, noted that the country has not learnt any lesson from the disaster.

He said, “it was sad for us as a country because the circumstances which brought about the tragedy were still prevailing at football match venues. “May 9 is a day which the whole nation mourns, a day full of regrets and a day we remember for all the negatives. A day, we all say never again to each other, yet we continue to do the same things which led to disaster,” Mr Agyemang said.

Looking very sober, the former broadcast journalist was worried about the fact that some football fans have died at match venues even after the May 9 disaster.

“We lost 127 people as it happened 17 years ago, but we have still lost people at the stadium even after the May 9 disaster. We have had matches where supporters attack each other, officials attack their colleagues, matches with poor officiating, to the extent that everybody will testify to the fact that we have not learnt anything from the May 9,” he added.

“It is time to stop hooliganism at our various centers and embrace ourselves as brothers. We are fighting for points but we are not enemies. “I believe certain actions should be implemented. There was a commission after the disaster, there were recommendations, which were accepted, and they should have long been in practise, but we have turned blind eyes to it.

“We have to be responsible and know it is football. It is either you win, draw or lose. It should not be about always winning,” he added.