Cheers for Kotoko, tears for Faisal, Dwarfs etc
Last Wednesday marked the end of yet another eventful Premier League season which, as usual, kept soccer fans in suspense for the past eight months.
So fascinating was this season’s league that apart from Kumasi Asante Kotoko who were decorated with their 23rd championship title ahead of the finishing line, then Dwarfs and Amidaus Professionals who were condemned to Division One after the penultimate games., almost all the remaining clubs could only know their fate on the final day.
The keenly-contested race left in its wake an interesting scenario where six clubs who were deeply trapped in the relegation net left their followers’ hearts in their mouths till the curtain was finally lowered on Wednesday.
As it turned out, Kpando Heart of Lions finished second to confirm their maiden CAF Champions League ticket, alongside champions Kotoko, while sleeping giants Hearts of Oak settled for the CAF Confederation Cup after placing third and missing a Champions League slot by a whisker.
But even more agonising was life at the bottom where Alhaji Gruzah’s King Faisal were eventually demoted together with Dwarfs and Amidaus.
According to the permutations prior to their crucifixion, Faisal needed a win at all cost against fellow relegation-threatened Berekum Chelsea at home, but as fate would have it, all they could muster when it mattered most was a 1-1 stalemate which largely favoured their opponents.
And in what appears to be sour grapes, Gruzah has sworn fire and brimstone to remain in the elite division come next season, threatening to seek redress in court to rectify an alleged administrative lapse on the part of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) which favoured Aduana Stars above his club.
Whether or not Gruzah is making empty threats remains to be seen in the days ahead. But as we wait for that drama to unfold, we deem it fit to commend the Premier League Board (PLB) and the other stakeholders for ensuring another exciting and keenly-contested competition to the satisfaction of many.
Certainly, the script of the 2013/2014 season cannot be complete without mentioning the wonderful support provided by First Capital Plus Bank (FCPB) whose timely intervention in the second round of the league relieved the 16 clubs from their financial distress.
Even though the league ended outside FIFA’s May 18 deadline, it was still timely enough to pave way for Ghanaians to throw their weight behind the Black Stars as they prepare to make the nation proud again in Brazil.
It is in on this note that we wish the Stars the best of luck in their final warm-up match against South Korea in Miami, US, on Monday.
