Police, ex-players clash over VVIP stand

Footy-ghana.com can confirm that many of the former national players invited to motivate the Black Stars ahead of the game against Sudan were left seething when they were prevented from entering the VVIP section of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium yesterday.

In the full glare of many fans, security personnel refused to allow the likes of 1978 African footballer of the year Abdul Razak, former captains Stephen Appiah and Charles Akunnor, Abukari Damba, Willie Klutse and 2001 BBC African Footballer of the year, Samuel Osei Kuffuor enter the VVIP to take their seats.


Fans present were incensed and called on the official to grant the players access but these calls initially went unheeded.


Footy-ghana.com can also confirm that Stephen Appiah and Osei Kuffuor were so frustrated by the situation that they almost left the stadium but were eventually persuaded to return.


According to our sources, the situation occurred due to communication and organisational lapses.


The former national players were eventually allowed to enter after interventions from the Ashanti Regional Sports Director, Saka Acquaye and officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Abdul Razak later told footy-ghana.com that the ex-players were told that since they did not have complementary cards, they would not be allowed into the VVIP area.


“We were given VIP tickets worth GHS20 and no complementary cards. Even so, because we had been invited to speak to the boys ahead of the match, we all knew that we would be given access to the VVIP area, but we were refused entry,” he added.


Razak wondered why the ex-players had been invited to motivate the players, only to be treated this way on the match day in question.


“I wonder why we were invited to speak to the players and yet, on the match day, we are treated in this manner. It is unacceptable,” he added.