It has been a ‘long’ tiring journey to Sudan

11th July 2007

Correspondent:  David Kyei  Tripoli, Libya

The twenty-seven man contingent from Kotoko that left the country last Sunday for a two-match training tour of Sudan completed the first of their two-part journey at the Tripoli International Airport, Libya at 0400Hrs GMT (7am Libyan time) last Monday.

After four hours of what can probably be described as the smoothest flight I have ever had, the contingent aboard Afriqiyah Airwaves flight 0751 touched down at the Libyan capital to a very friendly weather that was very different from the anticipated cold environment, which that country is noted for.

The hopes of the team getting to Khartoum on time to have a good rest ahead of yesterday’s match was however dashed when enquiries at the airport revealed that the team had to spend a long time at the transit hall to catch their connecting flight.

The leaders of the delegation, Chairman Asare Owusu and operations director, Jerry Asare did their best to have the long transit period made a frustration free one.

However, officials of the airline insisted that the Libyan immigration policy was clear on getting travellers entry into their country, and since Kotoko was to spend less than twenty-four hours in that country, no entry visa could be issued out.

For twelve hours, the contingent had to go through the agonizing period of waiting until it was time for the boarding of the flight.

The fact that the team was to wait for twelve hours to get a flight to Khartoum, Sudan aside, meals served for breakfast and later in the day, lunch, was nothing to neither write nor talk about.

A cup of fruit drink and a small piece of sandwich was all that Afriqiyah Airlines could offer for the contingent for breakfast. Any hope of having what some of the players called ‘a sportsman’s meal’ for lunch was done a serious blow, as the same set of ‘meal’ provided in the morning was once again served for lunch.

Dinner was ruled out for the contingent that had spent twelve hours at a crowded transit hall.

The only restaurant at the hall also did not sell anything that a Ghanaian will call food apart from their pastries, sandwiches and high sugar concentrated drinks.

Tiredness could be seen to be written on the faces of all the players who kept complaining about the treatment being meted out to them by the airline.

The frustration of the team continued with the news that Kotoko had not been confirmed for the evening's flight and so had to wait for the next day to be considered for booking.

The leaders of the delegation stood up to the challenge and made telephone calls around all notable contacts to ensure that we got on the flight.

Though difficult, they were still working out on it and Kotoko Express will bring the full details to our readers in our next publication.

Speaking to this paper, Coach Bashir Hayford described the situation that his boys went through as an “unfortunate one”

“We are lucky that we are going through all these in Libya, else I would have read a different meaning into it”

In his opinion, he was happy that the team undertook the trip because it was has given him the chance to assess some of the players that he plans to have in the team and also to give some of the existing players the opportunity to prove their mettle as players of Kotoko.

“My aim as a coach of this great club is to build a formidable team that also has a character and pedigree and so I will not relent on my plans to give all the equal opportunity to  justify their inclusion in the new Kotoko”.

 At the time of filling this report, the team was scheduled to play her first match last night. Readers and supporters of Kotoko Express should book their copies of their official mouthpiece in advance for insider news and exciting pictures from Khartoum, Sudan.