Samson Deen, CEO, Africa Origin
The executive chairman of African Origin Travels and Sports Tourism, Samson Deen, has admonished soccer fans to be tolerant during matches.
He pointed out in an interview, “As we mark the eleventh milestone of May 9, an unfortunate incident that hit Ghana soccer in 2001, we at African Origin wish to admonish soccer fans to be tolerant with each other during matches.
“The fact that we belong to different teams does not make us enemies; the May 9 incident should constantly serve as a reminder to all soccer fans to eschew hooliganism.
“Recent news of fans subjecting match officials to beatings does not augur well for the game, and it appears we have soon forgotten about what happened in 2001,” he noted.
As the Official Ticket Reseller for the London 2012 Olympic Games, he advised that the many fans that would be travelling for the Games should learn about crowd behavior during the games.
“Olympics symbolizes peace, and the many fans that will have the opportunity to travel to the UK this July should endeavour to learn how fans behave so we impart it at our various Stadia on return,” Deen added.
Exactly 11 years ago, 127 soccer fans perished at the Accra Stadium during a Hearts-Kotoko midweek clash.
The fans got agitated over the referee’s decision, stirring them to destroy some of the plastic chairs and throwing bagged water and items on the field.
That prompted security men at post at the time to resort to the use of tear gas which resulted in the deaths of the fans.
By Kofi Owusu Aduonum
