By Gideon Owusu Afriyie (UniMAC-IJ)
In the world of football, match-fixing is a scourge that can have far-reaching consequences. For Ashanti Gold SC, the team that made me fall in love with Ghana football, suffered the consequences of alleged match-fixing, which in years past have been prohibited from participating in any GFA or CAF related tournaments. The Ghana Football Association(GFA) suspended the team from all football-related activities, casting a dark cloud over the club’s future. In this feature, we delve into the events that led to the suspension, the impact on the team and its fans, and the larger implications for Ghanaian football.
I in particular do not believe match fixing should be encouraged in the football universe. This scandalous act destroys our beautiful game and denies fans the fun and moments football should rightfully give. In the case of Ashanti Gold SC, the best club in Ghana, our punishment was too harsh. Indefinitely suspending one of the big clubs from participating in any GFA or CAF competitions in my opinion was a very brassy punishment and also a loss not only to the team but to Ghana football as whole. Ashanti Gold SC’s contribution to Ghana football all over the years was quite appreciative including their great performances in the CAF champions league and CAF confederations cup which put Ghana on the map of Africa promoting our football heritage. I never thought the hardest punishment to give for a match fixing crime especially when a club like Ashanti Gold SC is involved would result in a ban we don’t know its end.
It saddened my heart to see a club like Ashanti Gold SC go down the drains like they haven’t helped promote the Ghana premier league. I’m not objecting to a punishment for match fixing, instead a less severe punishment would have been better at least to appreciate their contribution to Ghana football over the years. At first, they were to be sent to the division 2 league as their punishment which in my opinion was the best punishment to give, at least we could have bounced back to the premier league in the years ahead but it all shattered when they claim Ashanti Gold SC have involved themselves with banned officials that is the club’s CEO Dr Kwakye Frimpong and his son Emmanuel Frimpong which led to this huge punishment.
I don’t disagree with the GFA for taking note of Ashanti Gold’s action regarding their punishment then, but I think the team was trying to justify themselves in the court and the only way to do that was to seek financial assistance from the club’s CEO. They did not in any way want to interfere in the operations of the premier league whatsoever. If in the case of defending themselves, they suffered such a harsh punishment then there is no way to seek justice when one thinks they’re offended.
I have no agenda against any team in Ghana, but there have been numerous match fixing cases in the country in which the teams should have suffered such punishment but they somehow escape even the lowest of punishment to give and not talking about the harsh ones.
Seeing a childhood club fall off like this which I think could have been avoided feels like hell not only to me but to other natives of Obuasi and its environs. Whenever we hear or see the Ghana Premier league in action, our life becomes more frustrating and boring to live. We are not happy, we deserve better and also the GFA should consider our contributions to the league and Ghana. They wouldn’t know but the management of Ashanti Gold are ready to sit and negotiate our punishment. A communique emerged last month that the club has started some negotiations with GFA to accept whatever condition they have for them in order to return to top flight football. “We went to the General Secretary of the FA and he forwarded our request to the Exco. So in one of their meetings, they discussed our comeback and we were told we could come back but not to the top flight as we wanted but rather Division Two because that’s where we were sent before our suspension for dealing with banned officials. As it stands now it is very possible Ashgold will play in Division Two next season. For that I am very sure, highly optimistic that next season Ashanti Gold will play in the Division Two league,” Kwabena Danso – Administrative manager of Ashanti Gold SC via myjoyonline.
It’s a great start but details and more communication should be given to us the fans for reassurances. Even if we have to start from the third division, at least our joy will be resurrected. Our cries will be heard, and the joy we truly deserve will reflect.
