Sports News of Thursday, 13 June 2024
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
Ghana football is bracing for a major conversation around a game that has produced one of the biggest scorelines in the ongoing Ghana Premier League (GPL).
A game of many goals would ordinarily be labelled a thriller but the 8-1 outcome of a GPL game between Dreams FC and Real Tamale United (RTU) has brewed a storm in football circles.
Below are three major points of controversy from the fixture:
RTU first team boycotts game:
According to a Ghanasoccernet.com report, "The RTU first team boycotted the match due to six months of unpaid salaries."
RTU improvises squad:
"In a desperate bid to fulfill the fixture, RTU’s Chief Executive Zakaria Safianu reportedly recruited players from Division Two sides Galaxy FC and another unidentified team.
"This impromptu squad took to the pitch, resulting in a humiliating defeat," the report added.
It wasn't me - RTU's lone goal scorer speaks
In a post-game interview, the player credited with RTU’s only goal, Lord Adabo, said he could not have scored at all because he did not make the trip to Dawu.
"I am not the player who scored the RTU goal against Dreams FC today. I am currently in Tamale and I didn't play any game today. I've seen on social media that I scored a goal but all I can say is that there's only one Adabo in RTU and I'm in Tamale," he told Promise Radio.
How the game went:
RTU, the away team for the fixture, surprised the hosts by opening the scoring in the fourth minute of the June 12, 2024 match, with initial reports crediting the goal to Lord Adabo.
However, Dreams FC responded emphatically, with Agyenim Boateng scoring five goals, Benjamin Bature adding a brace, and Dede Ishmael contributing another to seal an 8-1 victory.
The incident has overshadowed league's weekend coronation of Samartex as champions for the first time and the intense relegation battle involving Hearts of Oak and Great Olympics.
Dreams with the result had all but escaped relegation but the signs are clear that the coming days could alter the turn of events not just for the two clubs but potentially the entire league season.
SARA