There was total pandemonium at the plush Naakoff Hotel in Takoradi during a question and answer segment of a press soireè organised by an aspiring NDC MP for Effia Mr Michael Otoo in conjunction with GHALCA and Super Sports as part of activities preceding the 4days tournament at the Esipon Sports Stadium Takoradi.
The nasty incident happened when Mr Opare Addo, the Public Relations Officer for Accra Hearts of Oak dashed from the high table to confront a journalist who felt his colleague was being intimidated by Hearts of Oak officials. Earlier Shaban Quaye had asked journalists to re-frame his question to the coach i.e "what would you consider as a failure for your team in this tournament"? Israel, a sports journalist felt that Shaban was not being fair to the journalist by demanding that the question had to be asked again. All of the sudden the highly intoxicated spokesperson for the Phobian side gallivanted from the high table and charged on the journalist apparently to push his fingers into his eyes. Team manager and leader of delegation Shaban Quaye joined the exchanges in a terrific manner pushing his way through a cluster of hands that had tried to restrain him.
In the heat of the commotion, Opare Addo, who could not even gather his speech well,was whisked away by friends,top journalists, top Ghalca officials and other dignitaries including, Mr George Amoako, Mr Oti Essilfie, Mr John Ansah,Mr Kuntu Blankson, team captain Reuben Gnyane etc while expatriate coach Keniche Yatsuhashi stood in bewilderment.
In the ensuing melee, Opare who could hardly stand still, was pushed from behind by well-built guy who this writer later got to know is a sympathiser of Tarkwa based Medeama SC. The force behind the push dazed the helpless PRO who lost his footing sprawled for about 3metres before falling down heavily on his sideways at the forecourt of the hotel. It was indeed a wicked push and bad fall but no bruises were seen on him when he was held up by the Kotoko rep at the scene. The place got messy and Super Sports had to suspend their coverage.
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At the time of filing this report, Opare together with the Hearts of Oak entourage had left the hotel.
It is also reported that Ghalca officials had met the media behind closed doors for reasons that cannot be readily available. Observers and commentators were calling on Hearts management to sanction the PRO for getting to such an official occasion heavily drunk and misconducting himself in an embarrassing manner.
Nevertheless, the G6 fever is high in the Sekondi -Takoradi Metropolis and it is expected to witness a great attendance and competition.
Credit: Asare Nkansah, Freelance