Tuesday, March 9, 2010

BA UNITED/BOFOAKWA MUST MERGE (GRAPHIC NSEMPA, BACK PAGE, FEB 1, 2010)

By Kwame Asare Boadu, Sunyani

WOULD Sunyani ever see its traditional clubs, B/A United and Bofoakwa Tano, return to the premier division?
This is the question many sports fans in Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo Regional capital, have been asking as the former regional giants languish in the lower divisions.
While Bofoakwa is playing in the national first division, B/A United will be doing action in the second division.
It is unbelievable that the once Apostles of Power Soccer as United was known, would find themselves in the second division.
For a club that once commanded one of the largest followings in the country, and had produced established stars in the past, it is a disgrace that they are now playing their football in villages where football parks are not even fenced.
Come to mention of players such as Agyeman Gyau, George Arthur, the Barnie brothers, Atta Kwame and others and one would come to terms of the pedigree of United in the past.
Bofoakwa was also a great side in their own right. Mention can be made of football greats such as Emmanuel Acheampong, Kwasi Owusu, Dan Owusu, Opoku Sampene and many others who made their names at the club.
The question, therefore, arises as to what has gone amiss for the Sunyani clubs to sink so low at a time that clubs such as Bechem Chelsea, Berekum Arsenals and Dormaa Aduana Stars are doing very well in the premier league.
It is a fact that the two clubs previously enjoyed much of their support from the various towns in the region, mostly Berekum, Dormaa and Techiman.
But with the decision by individuals and the traditional authorities to form football teams in their localities, the financial support for the two clubs diminished.
Today, the Dormaa Traditional Council has its own club, which is receiving massive financial support from the omanhene and his subjects.
Mismanagement had also been the bane of the Sunyani clubs. From one management to another, they have virtually run the clubs down to the detriment of football loving fans in the municipality.
Perhaps, the time has come for the two clubs to merge so that they can pull resources to develop a single strong team for Sunyani.

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