Impressions about the Ghanaian ABC league

The just ended ABC Premier league season, has been described by some soccer fans as exciting and very competitive. However, others were of the opinion that it lost its beauty as a result of an alleged match fixing by relegation threatened clubs getting to the latter part of it.

A cross section of supporters interviewed by the GNA Sports in Accra revealed that the downward performance of League Champions Accra Hearts of Oaks nearly marred the beauty of what would have been the most competitive league in recent years.

Mr Issah Alhassan, an ardent supporter of Liberty Professionals said, the league started on a lightening note, especially, when Hearts thrashed Kotoko 4-0 in a historic match. But Alhassan said some of the results especially getting to the end were quite suspicious.

''We have no evidence to support our claims but having followed football for nearly 20 years, I can differentiate between a clean match and fixed one".He cited the Hearts-Olympics match played on September 31 which ended 2-1 in favour of Olympics as an example , adding that even before the match started supporters of both teams knew that Olympics were going to win the match.

On the contrary, Sylvester Hammond, an Olympic supporter, thought all matches were played on a very competitive note. He however said, lessons should be learnt from the season to make the next season even more competitive.

Jonathan Tetteh, a Hearts fan, said the season was tough even though Hearts took unassailable lead after the first round. "I think this year is their year, they are in good shape perhaps because they have played together for a very long time." He suggested that the rest of the clubs should take a que from Hearts and stop "selling" their players at their pre-mature stage to Europe.

Kingsley Tetteh of Power P/C said although it was successful, the violence and hooliganism which cropped up at some of the league centres nearly marred the beauty of the league and urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to provide enough security at all league centres next season and to institute measure to stem this growing menace before it grow into something else.

The 30-week League ended successfully even though there were few controversies surrounding matches involving clubs threatened by relegation. Joseph Ade Coker, Chairman of Accra Great Olympics heaved a sigh of relief when his troubled club escaped relegation by the skin of the teeth but the same could not be said of his friend Nana Sam Brew Butler of Dwarfs. Dwarfs joined B. A. United for the relegation wilderness when they were humbled with a 1-2 defeat. Ebusua Dwarfs have learnt their lessons the hard way.

B. A. United's Accra representative, Mr Kwabena Ntow, said financial constraints were the major factors that caused his team's relegation. Dawu Youngsters owe their survival in next year's league to Accra Hearts of Oak's refusal to honour their last match on the grounds of their continental championship. Power F/C will engage Adansiman for a play-off for a place in the elite division next season.