Article: Arise for Tamale City – Rossoneri Selecao
You just cannot ignore the boys in gold. You are unable to turn a blind eye on their poise and progress. Definitely, you do not delude yourself from the reality of the movement they have founded. If football in the Northern Region is like Simpa dance, hardly can someone else shake their waist better. Former Guan United morphed into now Tamale City few seasons ago and things have never been the same since.
Today, the club can claim to be the city’s number 2 club in many ways you appreciate it. Arguably though, it is the most admirable you can find around, albeit it competes in a second tier league. Structural definition has played so much into this. With an encouraging legion of traditional fans, it is undisputedly where the neutrals flock towards. The buzz around the club is rich in pull-power and its short life has been impactful beyond believe.
The Citizens, their affectionate name, find themselves in a delicate position that promises both reward and regret. It is the business end of the Division One League, DOL season and they are jostling for promotion alongside a relentless foe, Nsoatreman FC from the Bono Region. After 28 rounds of matches, both clubs have 65 points each and City edge them on goal difference, with 2 games left. Life atop the table is suffocating. Neither can afford a blink.
The onus lies on the club to muster a strategy to outwit Nsoatreman even if as slim as a whisker. The remaining fixtures see them travel to Mighty Royals and then host Bolga All Stars. The away trip appears to be their most important game all season long, as a slip could just dash their hopes. They are simply expected to make mince meat of All Stars on the final day. City must win both games and hope their rivals fall along the way.
The last two fixtures come with possibilities and dynamics, especially the penultimate round of games because both sides will be on the road. For the Bono club, they do not travel outside their region and its surroundings as opposed to City. They travel to Brekum to play Arsenal before wrapping their season at home against Unity FC. Zone 1 looks set to go to the wire. In times like this, utmost professionalism and the spirit of fair play must be on the lookout. If there is a tie at last, the stipulated criteria of head-to-head, goal difference, goals-against and away goals will be applied, including a special play-off if need be.
No club must misbehave. What an anticlimax it would be to send your season crumbling. Neither Tamale City nor Nsoatreman must be reminded that the lenses focussed on them by GFA are sharper than ever. Corruption, match fixing, hooliganism and the like will not be countenanced. They come with severe sanctions that do not blow breeze after biting. It has been a wonderfully absorbing contest that deserves a hurrah finish.
What can the people of Tamale do in all this? Offer solidarity. Show of concern must be succeeded by extension of support from across board. It is a fight for Tamale by City. Their qualification to the Premier League will enhance the beauty of the football landscape in the region. Two elite division clubs is enough motivation. Fans are fond of fanning flames for this. Coach Hamza Mohammed and his team cannot fail their people. What a gift qualification will be to the undying memory of the legendary Jones Abu Alhassan!
Yours in the beautiful game
By: Issah Mohammed (Rossoneri)
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