The Media football team (Pen) in the Ho Municipality on Thursday held the Police team (Baton) to a goalless draw in a friendly football match organized by the Regional Police Command to mark their annual community coalition building programme in the Volta Region.
The game which witnessed a lot of anxious moments following a 1-1 draw in a similar encounter to mark Press Freedom Day last year, again failed to produce a winner.
The media team who were anxious for victory over the law enforcers started the game strongly from the blast of the referee’s whistle with incessant 30 minutes forays into their opponent’s territory.
In the 29th minute, midfielder Eric Eli of Volta Star Radio, in a solo move missed narrowly a he hit the side netting to deny the Media team the goal.
The Police team came back into the game as they were cheered on by the Police Dance Band and their wives but failed to create any clear chances in the first half.
The second half began with both teams coming in strongly on the heels of some substitutions and created very good chances but all were wasted.
It was the Police team who came close to breaking the deadlock in the 85th minute but their over anxious striker failed to convert the chance.
The Media team also followed with a chance in the 90th minute but they again missed narrowly when it mattered most.
Mr David Nenyi Ampah-Bennin, the Volta Regional Police Commander who is a Journalist was the Guest of Honour and commended both teams for their spirited performances after the match.
He praised the two teams for their sportsmanship and expressed the hope that the encounter would further enhance Media-Police cooperation towards the fight against crime and to also ensure peace and order in the Region.
Mr Adofiem Raymond Wejong Kwame Ali, Officer Commanding the Volta Regional Police Training School, stressed the need for the Police to collaborate and work with the media and other stakeholders would bring the Police Service’s vision of a crime free society into a reality.
“We believe that by building coalition teams for crime fighting with community members, we can work together to see Ghana prosper with planned, informed, healthy, safer and peaceful growth,” he said.