Accra, Sept 10, GNA - Abysmal turnouts has engulfed this year's Glo Top Four tourney ensuring most of the matches have been played in near empty stadiums.

The event which is at its penultimate stage of the group phase has depleted in interest in a manner that understandably raises questions. Not even matches involving crowd puller, Kumasi Asante Kotoko has managed to attract a quarter of its followers as seen in previous editions regardless of the fact that this edition remains the richest in sponsorship.

Matches involving teams like Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals, Kpando Heart of Lions and Berekum Arsenals have been underwhelming in attendance with spectators at the 44,000 capacity Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra always accessible by head count.

So serious is the situation that it took sanitary workers at the Ohene Djan Stadium and some staff of the national Sports Council in the game between Lions and Arsenals to save the blushes of the acclaimed "Passion of the Nation" on Wednesday.

In an almost empty stadium, the workers who were detailed for sanitary measures took places in the stands to ensure about 50 spectators could be dotted in the red-yellow-green arena. Even the high presence of the Supporters Unions who often charge to undo each other has been missing while the few branded in "Glo" apparel in attendance cheer sympathetically.

Yet it seems they appear to have been forced to the arena just to fulfill "contractual" obligations.

The VIP stand where tickets are often reserved has had its fair share of the apparent apathy towards the matches. The media tribune which is often noisy with radio commentators has not been spared the "boycott" that has deleted every excitement ever associated with the competition designed to prepare the top four teams for continental assignments.

Not even the late kick-off of some matches notably those involving Asante Kotoko has become the magic wand to pull the crowd. Gate proceeds will surely be running into near zeros and it is obvious that the organizers can only hope to cash-in on the October 19 final, where a half-packed stadium might be a windfall.