Hearts Chapters to check hooliganism among its supporters

Kumasi, Feb 14, GNA - The National Chapters Committee, (NCC) the supporters wing of Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting club will as from this football season collaborate with the Police and other security agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute any supporter who engages in acts of hooliganism.

Mr Mathew Ossei-Poku, the Northern Sector first Vice-Chairman of the NCC who announced this, said the move formed part of measures by the NCC to ensure discipline in the Club with the view to reducing the spate of hooliganism during football in the country.

Mr Ossei-Poku said this at the annual delegates assembly of the NCC under the theme, "Towards a Better Hearts of Oak", which opened at the Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI) in Kumasi on Saturday.

The Vice Chairman cautioned supporters of the Club not to resort to violence and other unconstitutional means to address issues when they crop up but they must be tolerant and try to always exercise a lot of restraint when decisions are made against their club.

Mr Ossei-Poku asked the supporters to be relentless in their prayers and support by providing both material and spiritual help to the playing body to enable them win the Super Cup in their impending match against Enyimba FC of Nigeria.

Alhaji Issaka Awuni, a Board Member of the club called on the feuding factions within the NCC to bury their differences in the interest of the club to facilitate the development of the club, adding that plans were far advanced to revive Auroras, the junior team of the club for the supply of young talented and dedicated players to the senior team.

Mr Neil Armstrong-Mortagbe, Chairman of the NCC said the Committee had opened a bank account into which all contributions from the Chapters would be paid into to ensure transparency among the supporters. He said it is gratifying that the various Chapters and successes of the Club has inspired many well-meaning "Phobians" to contribute substantially to the progress and development of the Club.