Chairman of the MTN FA Cup Committee, Wilson Arthur, has voiced concerns over the lackluster promotion of the upcoming President’s Cup match between Ghanaian football giants Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko. The match is scheduled for July 6, 2025, at the Accra Sports Stadium, held annually in honor of the sitting President.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s “Football Made in Ghana,” Arthur lamented the dwindling fan turnout at recent matches, calling it troubling, especially for a great fixture like Hearts vs. Kotoko.
“I don’t understand why a Hearts and Kotoko match should be played in an empty stadium,” Arthur said. He highlighted that external interference often disrupts efforts to create the vibrant atmosphere needed for such games.
Arthur stressed the importance of strategic marketing to rekindle excitement and drive fan engagement:
“The quality of promotions we do matters. Football is showbiz, and showbiz needs a full promotional cycle. You need to create awareness, generate interest, and excite people to act. It’s about creating a fever for the game.”
Organizers, GHALCA, have pledged to ramp up publicity in the days leading to the match, aiming to fill the stands and restore the electrifying atmosphere synonymous with Ghanaian football’s biggest rivalry.
Arthur emphasized that football remains a unifying force in Ghana, urging stakeholders to treat it with the respect it deserves. “Our football is the passion of the nation. With the right approach, it can reclaim its place at the heart of our national pride and unity.”
The President’s Cup promises to be a thrilling spectacle, but whether fans will fill the stadium remains to be seen.
