To the point: A question of security in lower divisions!
Human lives are being toyed with with impunity in this 21st Century as if it is nobody's business.
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We wake up in the morning to be greeted with deadly information about people murdered in broad daylight in some poor villages in the northern states of Nigeria, and you wonder if Africa has been able to stand the storm of human cruelty.
We come down to our terrain only to be greeted with all sorts of obituary notices on our walls, headlined "gone too soon" and "what a shock", and sometimes you can't believe what is happening in recent times.
Of course, death is inevitable, whether we like it or not, but is that the way people must be left to perish leaving others in perpetual grief as we lose our beloved ones almost every day? Oh Gold Coast, come and see Ghana!
Now, it is the football fraternity that has been thrown into a state of mourning as the nation's passion suffers sudden losses with the passing away of young enthusiasts like comrade Jerry Asare, aka "Show Show", a management member of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, noted for his bravery, flamboyance and influence in the affairs of the club.
Jerry is highly remembered for his stand at the Accra Sports Stadium in 2004 when he perceived his beloved club glaringly losing a GHALCA Top 4 match against Heart of Lions, and instantly led a boycott march which has come to be known as "yembo bio" in Akan parlance. He has since been extremely popular as he tended to carry the affairs of Kotoko on his broad shoulders, rising from Accra representative to a management member.
Of course, we have not forgotten the sudden death of a Hearts spokesman, Kwaku Edusei, popularly called "Ka na wu", whose death sent shock waves across the football fraternity in Kumasi and Accra.
Then quite recently, there was story of young referee Samuel Manukure who, as was reported, committed suicide by hanging himself.
However, one death that hit the whole nation recently was that of referee Kwame Andoh-Kyei who died from injuries he sustained after being severely beaten by irate fans during a second division football match at Bordie between Gold Stars and NaaJoe United.
And just as soccer lovers were bracing themselves over the untimely death of Andoh Kyei following a brutal assault came another incident at the Berekum Golden Park. This time the focus was on the head coach of Unity FC, Nana Andy Sinason, who was attacked by angry fans during a Division One League match between his club and Berekum Arsenal, which ended 2-0 in favour of Arsenal.
Reports have it that it was the quick intervention of Berekum police that saved his life and that of his team as Arsenal fans sought to vent their spleen on the coach in revenge of an alleged attack they suffered in their first round duel. Recounting his ordeal, a traumatised Coach Sinason told reporters that the attack started immediately after his team’s warm-up, and even though they were assured of their safety by top officials of Arsenal, they were not spared.
It is on this note that I want to ask why the GFA found it necessary to form a Security Committee whose responsibility is to seek the safety of players and officials in all matches in all divisions? Are we really ensuring that all players and officials are adequately protected before, during and after matches in this country?
The other day on a sports programme on "Asempa FM" in Accra, I had cause to ask whether the lower divisions of our football are getting the same security attention as the Premier League. During a match between two top Premier League clubs, one could count numerous policemen and soldiers detailed to protect lives and property. Unfortunately, on the other hand, even though human lives are at stake, no such security is detailed to the lower divisions where it is not uncommon for people to misbehave.
I overheard a panel member say on a television programme last Sunday that in a recent match between Nania FC and St Mirren, he could count only five police women detailed there to ensure peace with no weapons in their hands, (except their mobile phones). Then he asked, what could these women do if angry fans rushed on a referee at a park that had no inner perimeter nor any protective measure? Have we so soon forgotten how referee Patrick Kyerematen was manhandled by angry fans at the Robert Mensah Stadium in Cape Coast last year?
We have reached a stage in our lives when serious care must be taken at such gatherings, and the sad story of Andoh-Kyei must teach us a new lesson. Some fans who know nothing about the laws of the game can take the law in their hands and misbehave after the decision of referees, so long as it is against their team. One funny thing about such incidents is the way perpetrators go scot-free.
But then, it would continue to be catastrophic if our referees would not learn a lesson and attend to such assignments with the agenda of filling their pockets with cedi notes; something that throws the rules of the game to the dogs and allows one side to get an undeserving victory.
In these days when FIFA and CAF have spread their vigilance for purposes of selecting deserving referees for important assignments at their tournaments, nobody should tell our referees to be extra circumspect in the discharge of their duties, no matter the division in which they are officiating. It is always sad to see our referees dumped at tournaments such as the African Nations Championships and the FIFA World Cup finals.
Meanwhile, let me express my condolence to the bereaved families of all who have passed away under the banner of sports. My sympathy goes specially to the parents of 21-year-old Andoh-Kyei. I hope the matter will be seriously investigated for the perpetrators to be brought to book. Oh, Kyei Baffour, rest in peace! Amen.
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