Essipong, (W/R) Jan. 14, GNA - It has been observed that the lack of a well-organized transportation system to and from the new multi-million dollar Essipon sports stadium may pose a big challenge for soccer fans within the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis who are desirous of watch live the "MTN Ghana 2008" soccer tournament.
The stadium is about nine kilometers away from Sekondi and 20 kilometers from Takoradi where majority of the fans live and where the hundreds of foreign visitors and tourists would put up in hotels and other accommodation facilities.
This was evident on Sunday when thousands of fans had to trek on foot to and from the stadium to witness the commissioning of the stadium by President John Agyekum Kufuor and a Premier League match between Sekondi Hasaacas and Tema Real Sportive at the venue.
Ardent soccer fans of all ages and sexes were seen walking along the long distance to be part of the commissioning of the magnificent edifice as a result of the inadequate or insufficient public and private transport to carry them to and from their venue.
As late as about 22.30 hours, three hours after the close of the match, hundreds of fans were seen standing or sitting along the roads either to catch a breath or ask for lift to Sekondi, Adiembra or Takoradi.
A number of them who spoke to the GNA Sports expressed concern about the situation and appealed to the various transport unions, the authorities of the Metro Mass transit and the Metropolitan Assembly to find quickly find solution to the problem to enable as many fans as possible to watch the soccer fiesta.
In a related development, taxi fares from Takoradi to Essipon had shot up astronomically.
The fare, which was about GHc 3.50, is now shot up to GHc 10.00. At the end of the Premier League match which saw both teams putting up brilliant performance, it was Hasaacas who carried the day with a 2-1 win over the visitors.
