NC Special Cup: Asante Kotoko reiterate decision not to honour Hearts of Oak clash in Accra

Kotoko have reiterated their decision not to play a one-off Special Competition semi-final game with Hearts of Oak in Accra as they bemoan the Normalisation Committee’s ‘long silence’ on their petition for a change in match venue. 

A petition addressed to the Committee on Sunday, has reminded the group that it is yet to respond to Kotoko’s request that the game is held at a neutral ground and the gate proceeds evenly shared to the two clubs.

Kotoko are billed to play Hearts of Oak on June 16, 2019, and the Committee is insisting that the game be played at the Accra Sports Stadium.

In addition to that, a larger portion of the gate proceeds, according to the Committee, will also go to the hosts.

These the Committee said are stated in a certain revised regulation that was put together and sent to the clubs within the course of the ongoing Special Competition.

Kotoko have, however, denied receiving any such regulation and insisted, in an earlier petition to the Committee, of only having that which was received before the start of the tournament and in which it is stated that the semi-final games will be played on a home and away basis.

In the said petition, Kotoko insisted they will honour the game only if it was on neutral grounds and the gate proceeds evenly distributed.

The Committee is yet to respond to Kotoko six days down the line, prompting the Porcupines to send another petition on Sunday.

“Management has, in a letter dated 2nd June 2019 and sent to the FA, indicated that though it has the interest of Ghana Football at heart and fully supports the normalization programme, it would not succumb to pressure and accept any decision bereft of justice and fairness,” said the press release signed by the Director of Communications, Samuel Sarfo Duku (Esq).

“Management expresses its discontent with the failure and /or delay on the part of the Football Association in responding to its letter to the association dated 27th May, 2019 which inter-alia sought for clarification on the format for playing the semi-final matches with Hearts of Oak in the tier one of the Normalisation Committee Special Competition.”

“Management is of the firm conviction that the posture of the FA is not only disheartening, but an impediment to proper planning and preparation ahead of the games.”

“Management, however, wishes to reiterate its earlier position that it would only accept the decision by the FA for the one-off semi-final match provided that it would be played on neutral ground and the gate proceeds shared equally between the clubs.”

“Management insists that it has only one set of legally binding regulations from the FA in its custody that was accepted by the signing of an attached form and returned to the FA before the start of the tournament and maintains that the FA has till date not furnished it with the purported revised regulations being referred to.”

“It is the contention of management and well-meaning persons within the sporting fraternity that the position of Kotoko should not be viewed as one which seeks the parochial interest of the club, but rather one that epitomizes fairness and equity,” the statement concluded.

Credit: Asantekotokosc.com