Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko have written to the Ghana Football Association seeking for a change of home venue from Accra to Tamale.
The Porcupine Warriors want to play their remaining matches in the Ghanaian top-flight as well as the CAF Champions League in the Northern region.
It’s unclear what sparked the latest decision but the club has notified the Football Association and the Club Licensing Board of its quest to move to the Aliu Mahama stadium in Tamale.
However, its been speculated that the congestion at the Accra Sports stadium has forced the club to take the four-hour journey up north for their remaining 17 home matches.
As many as five Premier League teams – Hearts of Oak, Asante Kotoko, Legon Cities, Great Olympics and Inter Allies share the facility in Accra as the home venue in the ongoing 2020-21 campaign.
With CAF having approved the Aliu Mahama stadium for continental matches, the record Ghana Premier League champions will host the return leg of the Champions League preliminary round against Mauritanian side FC Nouadhibou on Sunday, if the CAF and the FA put a seal of approval.
“We have written to the GFA on the change of venue. There is so much pressure on the facility. We have Hearts of Oak, Great Olympics, Inter Allies, Legon Cities and Kotoko using the same facility,” Kotoko spokesperson Moses Antwi Benefo told GHANAsoccernet.com.
“The situation has brought a lot of pressure to the facility. CAF sent an inspection team to check out the Tamale sports stadium and approved it as our second home venue.
“The Ghana FA boss has been preaching about bringing back the love and creating wealth for all. We are also helping to spread the love across the length and breadth of this country.
“It will also help several of our fans up north.”
The Ghanaian giants have also notified the Confederation of African Football about the change of venue after it initially chose the Aliu Mahama stadium as their second home venue in the continental championship.
Kotoko are expected to get a full-time residential camping in Tamale as they seek to make the Aliu Mahama stadium their own for the remaining matches in the top-flight and Africa sojourn.
The Porcupine Warriors will have to deal with the humid conditions in Tamale which is relatively hot and will be difficult ground for visiting teams.
It also affords fans in the Northern Region to get a feel of the Premier League with rivals Hearts of Oak and city rivals King Faisal expected to travel up north for their home fixtures.
Kotoko, the most adored club in the West African nation, have a huge fan base in Tamale and could serve as the game changer in their early struggles in the Premier League.
They drew 1-1 with Techiman Eleven Wonders in Accra and drew same at Berekum Chelsea before playing out a similar 1-1 at Mauritanian side FC Nouadhibou on Sunday.
The last time Kotoko played at the Tamale stadium was a 3-1 resounding success over sworn rivals Hearts of Oak in the FA Cup final in 2017.
Kotoko’s home venue – the Baba Yara stadium in Kumasi is currently undergoing renovation.
Source: Ghanasoccernet.com
