The Berekum Park recorded some ugly scenes during last Sunday's premier soccer Arsenals and Asante recording their first ever victory over the former. Kotoko won 3-1.
According to reports from Berekum, a national sports bi-weekly, the incidents started at the gates when two Kotoko players, Nana Frimpong and Stephen Oduro received bruises on their body, and ended when he playing body of the Kumasi-based club were escorted off the pitch amidst firing of gunshots from military personnel to prevent the home fans from attacking their guests.
The soldiers drawn from the 3 battalion at Sunyani had to further escort the bus carrying the Kotoko team and their officials to Sunyani to enable them have a safe journey to Kumasi.
The home team's supporters prevented the Kotoko players from entering the field through a gate of their choice instead of the main gate. This resulted in a scuffle during which Frimpong and Oduro were injured. With the support of the security personnel on the field, Kotoko were able to have their way, albeit, at the expenses of the two players sustaining bruises.
Kotoko's Chief Executive, Mr Herbert Mensah, who led his club to enter the park through the unapproved route, had hot exchanges with some Arsenal fans, Mr Herbert Mensah, who watched the match sitting on top of his private car, could not control his temper. He angrily got hold of an Arsenal supporter and heckled him. In a reaction from some irate Arsenals soccer fans, Herbert’s Golf car was dented with a big stone. Sportswriters at the stadium to witness the high-tension match also had it tough and were only allowed entry after interventions by some military personnel who were around.
But for the heavy police cum military presence on and off the field, the beauty of the game would have been marred, as Arsenals supporters, who claimed to have been assaulted by Kotoko supporters during their return premier soccer league encounter with Kotoko in Kumasi last year, had wanted to retaliate. Those incidents delayed kick-off till 3:35 pm when Tema based class I referee C.M. Atsatsa signalled the two teams into action.
