The Deputy Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Majeed Bawa, has attributed the vandalism at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium following the Black Stars’ defeat to Angola to betting addiction among young fans.
After Ghana’s 1-0 loss to the Palancas Negras on Thursday, angry supporters stormed the pitch, damaging various facilities and throwing objects onto the field.
While some have pointed to the disappointing result and the poor condition of the pitch as reasons for the outburst, Bawa believes the issue runs deeper.
“I saw them. In fact, I was standing helplessly because if you try to stop them, they may hurt you. The police were there, but they couldn’t help. They destroyed and threw missiles onto the pitch,” he told Asempa FM.
Bawa further stated, “All manner of objects were thrown on the pitch. That damage too was caused by NSA? I believe these incidents are being caused by young people addicted to betting. Honestly, that is my feeling. Because if you see those people doing these things, they are young, young guys. They are doing this because we lost. Those who vandalized the stadium are young guys addicted to betting.”
READ MORE: Ghanaians express frustration after Black Stars’ defeat to Angola
The poor state of the pitch has also been a hot topic, with many social media users calling for Ghana to be banned from hosting home games until the facilities are improved.
The Black Stars’ disappointing performance and the subsequent vandalism have sparked a broader discussion about the need for better management and support for fans in the country.
