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Chairman of Ghana’s Division One League Board, Mr Owoahene Acheampong has called on the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council and the leadership of National Sports Authority in the region, to find ways of getting some investment into the Bolgatanga Sports Stadium to bring life into the facility.

In his view, the current state of that structure, representing a stadium, does not befit the status of the Upper East region, and a continuous neglect will impart negatively on the development of the many football and sporting talents in the region.

“That structure there was started and abandoned half-way in the early 1970s under the Gen. Acheampong led government. Since then, no significant investment has gone into that place. For now, the playing field at the Bolgatanga Sports Stadium is the poorest being used in the Division One League and something urgent must be done, or else this region may never watch a Division One or Premier league match here in the very near future.”

The Division One League Board Chairman was speaking at the FC TANGA End of Season Awards Night held in Bolgatanga. The event was to climax a successful Division Two campaign and to reward some exceptional players and others whose roles and contributions have contributed to the Club’s qualification to the Division One League.

Though FC TANGA is not the first Club to qualify for Division One in the Upper East region, it can be said to be the first to qualify from Division 3 through Division 2 to Division One with an unbeaten record and within space of two seasons.

The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Daniel Syme who graced the occasion, commended the playing body, as well as the Technical and Management Teams of the Club, for bringing excitement to football lovers in the Bolgatanga and Bawku Municipalities, as well as other districts in the region.

“People have been calling from outside this region and have been asking about this Club. Your performance and strong presence in the media is also marketing the region. Very soon, if you qualify for the Premier League, many Clubs will be coming here to play and whilst here, some of their supporters and investors may see business opportunities here and will end up investing here. You have shown signs that you are a serious Club and ready to carry the flag of Upper East region into the Premier League.”

The Club President’s Best Player, Best Midfielder and the Overall Best Player Award went to Shadrack Adombila. General Captain of the Club, Daniel Darko received a Honourary Award for his exemplary leadership from Division 3 to Division 2. The Goal King Award went to Kenneth Nbah, whilst Dickson Asipola took home the Best Goalkeeper Award. The recipient of the Best Defender Award, Osman Bashiru did not come as a surprise at all. Deputy Captain Iddrisu Seidu received an Award for being the Best Player in the FC TANGA vrs Japan Stars match. Best Player, Gbimsi Stars vrs FC TANGA went to Shadrack Adombila, while Abula Francis Agombire took the Best Player Award for the FC TANGA vrs Wonderful Stars match, played at the Zebilla town park.

President of the Club, Rockson Coffie was impressed with the performance of his boys and challenged them to take the same spirit into the Division One league.

“I have always told you guys that, without discipline and commitment to training and your personal development, you cannot go far in this career. Many of you guys have committed yourselves even to vigorous and pain training conditions and that is what has yielded this enviable result. Today, yours have been written on every wall in this city and region for your unbeaten record. You need to get your names written on the hearts and minds of the people of this region, for being part of the Club that first qualified for the Premier League in the region.”

Mr Coffie also added his voice to the call for a standard playing field in the region, saying the Clubs do not have the financial capacity to inject the quantum of investment needed to upgrade the Bolgatanga Sports Stadium.

FC TANGA used the occasion to unveil its new jerseys for Division One League.