The much publicized soccer match between Ghana’s most celebrated football clubs, Accra Hearts of Oaks and Kumasi Asante Kotoko to be played in Italy has been cancelled.

The match which forms part of activities planned by the Council of Ghanaian Nationals Association in Italy (COGNAI) in the celebrations of Ghana’s Golden Jubilee Anniversary was scheduled to take place at Romeo Menti Sport Stadium in Vicenza on March 3.

A statement issued from the General Secretary of COGNAI, Gilbert Abasimi, explained that after all arrangements were put in place in Vicenza in securing permission from the Italian Ministry of Internal Affairs, authorization, the release of the stadium from the Community Council of Vicenza, the go ahead from the Italian Soccer Confederation, protocol arrangements with the Italian Football Association, safety measures agreement with the Italian Red Cross as well as the Italian Fire service and the local Police authorities, COGNAI was informed by the main collaborated, ATLAS SPORTS - in Ghana - that the match be postponed to a date to be known later. Reason given was that Kumasi Asante Kotoko has declined to honor the match without any tangible explanation.

The statement further said though COGNAI has written to Kotoko FC to convince them that all necessary plans have been put in place in Italy and has even advised them to honor the match as scheduled for the names of all partners at stake, no positive response has surfaced from the Kotoko camp.

In the event of this absurd situation COGNAI had to seek the intervention of the Ghana Embassy in Rome who after a short period of time informed COGNAI that contacts made by them in Ghana revealed the main organizers, ATLAS SPORTS, has already issued a statement in one of the national daily newspapers in Ghana, Daily Graphic, cancelling the match as previously arranged hence almost impossible to amend the situation.

Abasimi in his statement quoted: “In the light of this COGNAI wishes to apologize to all Ghanaian fans and lovers of football in Italy for the deep disappointment that resulted from the cancellation of the match, hopefully better arrangements will be made next time”. He went on saying, “Infact COGNAI tried their best to give Ghanaians in Italy a special Jubilee treat but were let down by poor organization and planning arrangement in Ghana”.

Further information gathered indicated part payment of hotel bills that will accommodate more than 50 contingents of the two clubs have already been paid by the sponsors and doesn’t seem it would be refunded. Atlas has also spent over $8,000 to procure visas for officials and players of the clubs.