The relegation status of Akyem Kotoku Royals has been confirmed as the first team to be relegated from the ongoing 2022/2023 Ghana Premier League with four matches to end the season.
With Sunday’s 2-0 away defeat at Sogakope to struggling Great Olympics means the pride of Eastern Region returns to the Division One League after a year in the top-flight.
Two goals from Isaac Mensah and Michael Osei in either half of the game proved the Akyem Oda-based club have no chance of avoiding relegation.
Currently on 23 points after 30 matches with four more matches to end the season, the Royals are 15 points below the safe spot on the table.
All things being equal an approximate 12 points for Kotoku Royals even if they win all of their four matches would only earn them 35 points, something which will still see them below King Faisal’s 36 points.
The Akyem Oda-based side suffered from their inability to complete their home venue- forcing the club to adopt the Cape Coast Stadium in the initial stages of the league before later switching to the Dawu Sports Stadium where they currently play their home matches.
After securing a historic qualification to the elite division to give the Eastern Region a boost of having more of the region’s clubs play in the Ghanaian topflight league, the demotion comes with another setback.
The football fraternity has since blamed the team’s inability to survive in the top-flight on ‘failed promises’ made to the club by political leaders following their qualification.
Until Kotoku Royals, Power FC was the last representative from the region following their demotion in 2007. Okwahu United, Suhum Maxbees, and Dawu Youngsters among other clubs have all tasted premier league football as the pride of the region.
