TEARS AND JOY ...As Bechem Chelsea enters the big league (NSEMPA, BACK PAGE)

By Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi

A HUGE question mark hangs over whether newly promoted premier side; Bechem Chelsea would continue to use Bechem as their base.
Club officials are contemplating changing their home grounds because of the poor conditions of the Bechem Park and the limited time available to do any meaningful rehabilitation on it.
Officials are considering using the Sunyani Coronation Park, but their only fear is the anticipated hostilities they are likely to face from fans of B/A United, the club they defeated last Wednesday to book a place in the premier division.
But reports from Bechem say the people are not happy with the club officials in considering a change of their home grounds.
The people contended that it would be great injustice for such a decision to be taken having supported the club throughout their campaign in the first division.
If Chelsea changed the venue, it would be the second time they had taken such a move. The club was originally based at Berekum before they shifted to Bechem.
This development notwithstanding, it was indeed a day of tears and joy for the Brong Ahafo Region depending on where one stood as B/A United failed to make it to the premier division, while Chelsea pushed their way through to the elite division of Ghana soccer.
When all was over in their last group match for qualification to the premier division with Chelsea ahead 1-0 over United, players and fans of Chelsea burst into wild jubilation while at the United end many wept like babies.
The 1-0 victory chalked up by the Bechem-based club over United, which guaranteed their entry to the premier division was significant, especially as they were only in their second year in the national first division.
Having come thus far, it behoves the Chelsea officials to put their acts together to make an impact in the premier division. Expectations are that they would maintain their premiership status for a long time.
Many clubs have made entry into the premiership division and exited ignominiously.
Bechem Chelsea worked very hard for their qualification and the management, players and fans deserve all the praises for the feat chalked up.
For United, they would have to wait for another year to fight their way back to the premier division.
Expectation were very high for United before the last group match with Chelsea and when they took over the game in the early minutes, their large following yelled for goals.
However, it was always difficult for the United attack to break through the Chelsea defence. When the only goal came the way of the Bechem-based side, it was no doubt one of the sad days for the former Apostles of Power Soccer.