Young Apostle, Basake Holy Stars, and Vision FC have earned their places in the top flight football league for the upcoming season.
Young Apostle Triumphs in Play-Off Drama
On June 4, Young Apostle secured the final promotion spot from the lower tier by winning 4-3 on penalties against Techiman Heroes at the Accra Stadium. The match ended 1-1 in regulation time, and thirty minutes of extra time failed to produce a winner for Zone 1, leading to the decisive penalty shootout.
Basake Holy Stars Benefit from Disciplinary Committee Ruling
Basake Holy Stars’ promotion was confirmed following a successful protest with the Disciplinary Committee against Sefwi All Stars, resulting in a critical point deduction for the latter. The controversy centered around a Division One League (DOL) Zone 2 match at Sefwi Asafo Ramos Park, where Basake Holy Stars accused Sefwi All Stars of deliberately causing an abrupt halt to the game through disruptive actions by their fans and officials.
The game was interrupted twice, once at the 22nd minute and again at the 31st minute, resulting in the match being halted for a total of 12 minutes. Holy Stars claimed that the assistant referees were pelted with sachet water and other objects, rendering one unable to continue officiating the match. Sefwi All Stars, however, contended that the match officials refused to come out for the second half despite the first half ending incident-free.
Disciplinary Committee Decision
The Disciplinary Committee, after reviewing the match footage and reports from the match commissioner and referee, concluded that Sefwi All Stars had indeed violated Article 33(1)(b) of the regulations. As a result, the committee dismissed Sefwi All Stars’ counterclaims and ruled in favor of Basake Holy Stars. With this ruling, Holy Stars now boast 56 points, five points clear of their closest rivals, New Edubiase, securing the top finish and promotion to the elite league next season.
Vision FC’s Historic Achievement
In a parallel achievement, Vision FC clinched their promotion with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Uncle T United last Sunday. This win ensured that they topped Zone 3, marking a historic debut qualification to the top flight league for the club.
These promotions signify a new chapter for Young Apostle, Basake Holy Stars, and Vision FC as they prepare to compete at the highest level of football in the upcoming season.
