Hearts appeal for security ahead of Kumasi match

Accra, Aug 8 - GNA - Defending league champions, Accra Hearts of Oak have appealed to the Professional League Board (PLB), the National Sports Council (NSC) and the State Security Agencies to ensure that adequate security measures are put in place before, during and after their 13th week Kinapharma league match against Kotoko scheduled for the Kumasi Sports Stadium on Sunday.

A press statement signed by Ashford Tetteh Oku, Administrative Manager of the club cited "the tension surrounding the Charles Taylor transfer saga" and "the notorious record of hostility towards visiting teams" at the Kumasi Sports Stadium as the basis for their concern.

The statement chronicled the post match "lamentations" of some premier league clubs including Hearts of Oak and complained about "the indifference of security personnel to various acts of intimidation, provocation and other unlawful acts from Kotoko supporters such as pouring of insipid urine on players and officials" in the vicinity of the dressing room.

It also warned against the invasion of Hearts' dressing room by "macho-men" on one occasion during which Ofei Ansah, the assistant coach and Fawaz Zowk were assaulted.

Hearts also recalled the granting of access to a Kotoko fan in one of their matches to the pitch to interfere with the warm up exercise of the team in which former skipper Jacob Nettey was cut on the eyebrow with a knife.

The statement warned against the use of strange ball boys who will be positioned behind the goal post to disturb the Hearts goalkeeper and decide on when to return the ball to the field of play.

"In fact, in such cases Match Officials have not been spared either, as happened during the outstanding 2nd week match Kotoko/Goldfields encounter (a couple of weeks ago) where a section of the media reported that the Referee had to be whisked away by Security Personnel," it stated.

The statement called on the supporters of Hearts who will go to stadium to watch the match to comport themselves and "advertise their trade mark tolerance, responsible supporting and unique sportsmanship in the face of any provocation."