Kotoku Royals’ inability to play at the Oda Stadium has been blamed as one of the major factors behind their relegation from the 2022-2023 betPawa Ghana Premier League season. Okatakyie Afrifa, the Public Relations Officer of the team, revealed in an interview with Citi Sports that the club’s lack of experience was a contributing factor, but their inability to play at their home ground was the biggest disappointment.
Afrifa also criticized politicians for failing to fulfill their promise of revamping the Oda Stadium, which led to Kotoku Royals playing their home games at the Cape Coast Stadium. This meant that the team was far away from their fans, making it difficult for them to enjoy home support during matches.
Before qualifying for the Premier League, Kotoku Royals played 15 Division One games at the Akim Oda Sports Stadium, winning 14 and drawing one. According to Afrifa, the Oda Stadium is where the team’s strength lies, but they were unable to play even a single match there during the Premier League season.
Kotoku Royals finished bottom of the 18 team league with 23 points after picking up just six wins, five draws, and 19 losses in 30 games. The club’s Communications Head emphasized that the lack of a home advantage was a huge setback for the team, and they were unable to secure the necessary points needed to avoid relegation.
For the most part, the team’s relegation is a huge disappointment for the fans, who were unable to witness any league matches at their home stadium. The club will now have to regroup and prepare for the upcoming season in the Division One league.
Kotoku Royals will take on Kumasi Asante Kotoko next on Sunday, May 21, as they seek to end the season on a positive note. However, the team will need to address the issue of playing away from their home ground if they hope to secure a return to the Premier League in the near future.