Tension is rising in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital, as angry youth and local sports presenters vow to resist a music concert scheduled at the Koforidua Youth Resource Center formerly Koforidua Sports Stadium.
The concert scheduled to take place from October 5th to 6th clashes with ongoing Division One League matches that weekend.
The Koforidua sports stadium is the home ground for Okwahu United, Kotoku FM, and Koforidua Semper Fi FC, all in the ongoing Division One league.
The agitating youth argue that the pitch was only recently rehabilitated by Division One league clubs that have adopted the stadium as their home ground.
They fear the concert which has headlined some musicians including Medikal will damage the pitch, especially since organizers have no plans to use pitch covers.
The angry youth and sports presenters are pointing to similar events at the Accra and Kumasi Sports Stadia, which led to significant pitch damage and subsequent bans from use by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
They plan to present a petition to the National Youth Authority (NYA) and the Regional Football Association (RFA) today, October 3, expressing their disapproval of the event.
The RFA and NYA, who approved the stadium for the “Agio Concert,” have advised the organizers to mount the stage on the running tracks rather than the pitch, hoping to minimize the impact.
However, the protestors insist that the event should be moved to a different location to prevent any damage to the field.
Felix Sowah, football Match Commissioner described the decision to allow the concert in the stadium as unfortunate.
“I am surprised this is happening. We don’t learn as a country. It is these concerts that destroyed our major stadium. Koforidua Youth Resources Center pitch recently gained its form. I am not sure they have a protector for the pitch. It is just unfortunate. Whoever took that decision must have questions to answer”, Said Felix Sowah.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Kojo Ansah
