Black Stars Team Manager Ameenu Shardow has offered a surprisingly optimistic perspective on the recent stabbing of Francis Frimpong, popularly known as Pooley, a passionate supporter of Asante Kotoko.
Pooley was fatally stabbed during Kotoko’s clash against Nsoatreman on Sunday, February 2, 2025.
The incident occurred after an on-field altercation between players escalated into the stands, resulting in the horrific tragedy.
Despite the alarming nature of the event, Shardow believes it could serve as a crucial turning point for Ghanaian football, sparking necessary reforms to address long-standing issues in the sport.
Speaking on Happy FM, the Black Stars Team Manager expressed his dismay over the incident, lamenting its potential negative impact on an already struggling local football scene.
“It’s a terrible situation because we’re already facing challenges with attendance and other issues in our local football. Incidents like this only make things worse. When I heard about it, I was really hurt because we are working hard to develop our game, and something like this sets us back,” he said.
However, while acknowledging the tragedy as a symptom of deeper issues plaguing Ghanaian football, Shardow believes it can serve as a wake-up call for stakeholders to take decisive action against hooliganism. He also extended his condolences to Pooley’s family.
“This is the result of behaviours that have been allowed to persist over time. If it takes such a tragic event for us to finally address the problem of hooliganism, then the only positive we can take from it is the opportunity to bring real change. But my heart goes out to the family—I can feel their pain and anguish,” he added.
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FKA/EK