Supporters in free-for-all fight at Uiversity games

Kumasi, June 26, GNA - Professor Lasun Emiola, President of the West Africa Universities Games (WAUG) was on Friday hit with a flying object when supporters of two Universities engaged in a free-for-all fight at the second West Africa Universities Hockey and Soccer Championships in Kumasi.

Prof Emiola who had a cut on his leg had to seek medical attention while four other spectators were also given first aid after they sustained various degrees of injuries.

It all happened when Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) engaged Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) of Nigeria in the semi-final soccer match at the KNUST Paa Joe Stadium. An unidentified spectator whistled from the stands to disrupt the attention of KNUST's player, Eric Frimpong who was about to score in the first half.

This incurred the displeasure of KNUST's supporters who suspected that it was an OOU's supporter who whistled, started to throw bagged filtered water at their opponents and in the process, generated a free-for-all fight as the supporters from both sides pelted each other with stones and other objects for close up to about 20 minutes. It was during the incident that an object hit Prof Emiola who together with other officials were seated at the VIP stand. Security personnel had hectic time controlling the situation as spectators ran helter skelter, most of who invaded the pitch, resulting in a temporal hold up of the match.

When sanity prevailed, Frimpong scored the only goal for KNUST in the 65th minute to ensure his side's qualification for the finals.