Henry Asante Twum, the Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association, believes that the inconsistent performances of prominent clubs in the Ghana Premier League have had a detrimental impact on match attendance.
Twum highlights Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak as the clubs with the largest fan bases in the Ghana Premier League, capable of attracting significant crowds to the stadiums if they consistently achieve victories.
He recalls a time when supporters would flock to the stadiums well before kick-off, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Twum reminisces about Baba Yara Stadium, where fans would arrive as early as 12 or 1 pm, and the demand for tickets was so high that some fans even tried to climb the poles near the stadium to catch a glimpse of the matches. He also notes that a similar enthusiasm existed in Accra.
“With specific reference to Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko. The Asante Kotoko we know back in the day by 12 or 1 pm Baba Yara is full that sometimes people want to climb the poles behind the stadium to watch matches, at Accra it was a similar story,” Henry Asante Twum said.
However, Twum expresses his disappointment that the present situation is a far cry from those vibrant days due to the declining performances of these clubs.
Twum emphasizes that Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak have lost their dominance in the Ghana Premier League due to their inconsistency. He firmly believes that the league’s popularity will be restored once these top clubs find their consistency.
“I have noticed a lack of consistency in the performance of these clubs. I cannot recall a time this season when Hearts of Oak won three consecutive games, and the same goes for Kotoko in terms of winning three games in a row,” Twum comments.
He further explains, “When a team lacks consistency, it discourages fans from attending matches. For example, after Kotoko’s impressive 5-1 victory over Kotoku Royals, they went on to lose the next game. Similarly, after their dominant 4-0 win against Accra Lions, they faced a defeat in their subsequent away match.”
“In recent times, Kotoko won at home against Bibiani Goldstars but then suffered losses to Olympics and settled for a draw against Tamale City at Baba Yara Stadium. So, where is the consistency?” Twum concludes.
