THE AFTERMATH OF THE DEATH OF A FOOTBALL FAN

Hooliganism and vandalism at football centres around the world has been something to deal with but to encounter intentional death is one such act that has never been encouraged and will never be encouraged.

Ghana like England and many other countries have encountered disasters which claimed the lives of many during football games and measures have been taken to ensure such never happens although actions of individuals who might stir such actions cannot be determined.

Ghana after the May 9th disaster at the Ohene Djan Stadium took many steps to ensure nothing of that nature happens after the incident claimed the lives of 126 people and many injured.

Football in Ghana has come to its lowest and has now become less attractive after the current incident which resulted in the death of a football fanatic during a premier league match between Nsoatreman Fc and Kumasi Asante Kotoko. The game which showed series of unprofessionalism from players and supporters ddi not just end on the pitch but resulted in the fatal stabbing of a supporter who came from his abode to enjoy football and share his passion.

Hooliganism and vandalism have been tolerated far too long with little to no measures taken but to take the life of another crosses the line. Following the incident closely, many questions have been asked with many still unanswered as the life of the football fan could have been saved if help had been extended in time.

Footages that have been circulating online makes it even worse and makes it scary to want to go to any match centre to work as a journalist or even a football fan.

Security and many other aspects of ensuring safety of both players and supporters are the most important i would assume needs to be checked before every game. Some games are classified high risk and it makes no meaning. Rivalry in football does not mean war as life goes on after the game.

After closely examining some of the footages of what transpired leading to the death of the football fan, I felt broken with thoughts running through assuming such in my stead.

Things noted in this footage showed an ambulance present during the match was less than a minute walk from where the bleeding victim laid while someone begged for the ambulance to be brought to assist. The police on duty stood by, fire service personnel, paramedics, every service person on site just stood and watched whiles people kept asking for help.

‘What was the essence of the ambulance and the service personnel present, are they there for a selected few of they are just there as spectators. I woke up to various news which still baffles my understanding. Why are the service persons who were close to the incident not invited for questioning, why hasn’t the ambulance driver been invited for questioning, rather you invite the owner of the club to provide a culprit.

My biggest disappointed was the comments made by a Seth Nii Darko after the death of a football fan and the message in his comments needs to be understood by many who follow the club with their all. “Pooley is not a management member of Kumasi Asante Kotoko”. In summary he is trying to say no one sent him to do any bidding of the club. Power truly differentiate leaders from arrogant dictators and that is what was shown in the comment. The deceased has been going on shows and defending the club he supports and no one came out to say he is no management member so he could not be making submissions until his death.

My second disappointment goes to the Ghana Football Association whose interest in shifted to fit their greedy gains. The association has been dissolved once and it is time to dissolve it again. If the leaders are not ready to make strict changes to ensure that match centres are safe for journalists and supporters, then they have no business sitting at the helm of affairs.