Soccer News of Monday, 19 January 2004

Source: .

Hearts IMC Wants Top Four Rescheduled

Accra Hearts of Oak’s IMC is reeling under pressure from the club’s faithful following over their decision to accept arch rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko back in the top four competition.

The influential chapter’s committee of the club, the umbrella body of Hearts of Oak fans say they want the management to rescind the decision or they will boycott the Coca Cola top four Cup.

JOYSports can confirm that Hearts Has made contact with GHALCA the organizers of the competition to once again postpone it for them to explain their decision to the fans. The start date of the tournament has already been postponed twice.

A JOYSports source close to GHALCA said Hearts of Oak is asking about the possibility of the tournament being rescheduled one last time. But that request has been turned down.

A series of high level discussions last week between representatives of Hearts, Kotoko, GHALCA and the major sponsors of the tournament settled on Kotoko playing in the tournament and Berekum Arsenals, the fifth placed team which replaced the champions to drop out of the competition.

But a statement from the Chapter’s committee of Hearts of Oak rejected that decision saying the management needed to send signals to Kotoko that the clubs which were playing in the absence of the porcupine warriors could fill the stadium and that Kotoko’s endless arm twisting should stop.