Soccer News of Friday, 29 October 2004

Source: OJEIKERE AIKHOJE, ENUGU

Kotoko reject hotel, bus in Enugu

Officials of Ghanaian side, Kumasi Ashanti Kotoko, on Thursday rejected the prestigious Presidential Hotel offered them by their Nigerian hosts,Enugu Rangers.

The Ghanaians, who arrived straight from Kumasi in a Charttered flight had earlier rejected the bus that was meant to convey them from the airport to the hotel.

An alternative arrangement was later made by their officials and they also booked into another hotel close to Nike Lake Hotel, in Enugu.

Officials of the Nigerian team were suprised that Kotoko rejected the same hotel which accommodated three other teams that had played against Rangers.

The trio of APR of Rwanda, Al-Hilal of Sudan and Etoile of Guinea stayed in the prestigious hotel when they were in Enugu to play the Nigerian side.

www.ghanaweb.com reliably gathered that Kotoko's refusal to stay in the hotel and bus reserved by Rangers may not be unconnected with the fear of juju.

Since their arrival in Enugu, the Ghanaian side have been behaving strangely, not wanting to have anything to do with their Nigerian hosts.

However, officials of both sides are expected to meet later this evening during the pre-match meeting, which would hold at the same Presidential Hotel, earlier rejected by Kotoko officials.