Qualification to GPL can turn Hohoe to tourism destination – Hohoe United PRO
Hohoe United’s qualification to the Ghana Premier League (GPL) on Sunday sparked ‘wild’ jubilant scenes in the metropolis moments after proceedings in their penultimate Division One League (DOL) game was brought to an end.
Sunday’s win was Hohoe United’s historic day, coming as a 15th straight home win in the championship. It was a 3-1 home victory for the Premier League debutants despite having a match more to honour.
chief patron of the club after the game
Drawing fans from the Volta and Oti regions, the team enjoyed massive support in dismissing the bluff of Inter Allies, beating them to seal qualification.
Safianu Usman and Farouk Mohammed gave Hohoe United a two goal lead in the 18th and 29th minutes in the first half, while Ganiu Abass sealed the victory with a third goal in the 75th minute.
Ofori Atta Oswald scored a consolation goal for Inter Allies in stoppage time.
Speaking to the Times Sports after the match, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Hohoe United, Mr Kenneth Asante, said the celebration was not just about qualification to the elite stage of Ghana football.
According to him, the vision of the club was to use football to promote tourism in the Hohoe Municipality and its environs, and make the area a major tourism destination of Ghana, and a tool to deepen peace and unity to bring the needed development to the area.
“This is a great news to all sons and daughters of Hohoe. This is one of the opportunities football is offering us to project our town to the world. It is an opportunity to boost our tourism potential. With this, our economic development agenda would be achieved,” he stated.
He indicated that playing with teams like Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak in the next season would be some of the biggest achievements of the team, adding that whenever Hohoe United had the opportunity to play at home with Kotoko and Hearts, it would boost the local economy.
According to him, the success of the team would provide opportunities for traders to engage in viable economic activities to sell their goods, and improve on their standard of living, while the Municipal Assembly also expanded its revenue collection for development.
Mr Asante further commended the players for the high level of discipline and dedication, which he stressed was the hallmark of success of every institution, saying the team would prepare adequately to face the task ahead of them in the next football season.
In a related development, Home Stars FC claimed back-to-back victories without conceding for the third time this season after beating Akatsi All Stars 2-0 at the Ho Sports Stadium.
Boakye Yiadom scored the first goal for the home team in the ninth minute, while Sadat Ayara made it 2-0 in the 94th minute. The win sent Home Stars FC to fourth position in the League table with 43 points.
FROM SAMUEL AGBEWODE, HOHOE
