A soccer administrator and Chairman of Division Three Neoplan Stars, Mr Jonathan Pobee Abbey, has threatened to report the GFA to the world soccer governing body, FIFA, if it endorses the 20-league system advocated by the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr E.T Mensah
Speaking to the Graphic Sports when he called at the Kumasi Office of Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), he questioned the essence of the proposal that seeks the commitment of members to endorse a 20-league system at a time the GFA had already endorsed the promotion and demotion of teams that participated in the last soccer season.
Mr Pobee pointed out that, the proposal, coming from The Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr E.T. Mensah, should not be entertained because it would undermine the effective and efficient organisation of sports in the country”.
Mr Pobee said “politicians would gradually take over the administration of soccer in the country against FIFA directives if this proposal is endorsed This should not be encouraged because it would undermine the professional way of organising soccer in the country”.
Mr Pobee’s threat comes at a time Ghana Football Association (GFA) has issued a directive to summon the Executive Committee, Regional Football Associations, Premier and Division one League Clubs, and Constituent bodies to meet on August 18, 2010 to endorse the 20-team league system in the country during their “extra-ordinary session of congress”, ,.
The notice for the meeting, written and signed by the General Secretary of the GFA, Mr Kofi Nsiah, on July, 19, 2010, among others things, sought to discuss issues on accreditation, proposals for amendment of regulations and statues of the Ghana Football Association and any other business.
It was distributed to Executive Committee members, the Regional Football Associations, Premier and Division one League Clubs and Constituent bodies.
The proposal suggested the increase of “participating Clubs in the Premier League from 16 to 20, with effect from the 2010/2011 League season”
It said “the number of Clubs participating in the Division One League should be increased from 48 to 64, also with effect from 2010/2011 League season”.
It explained that “when endorsed by Congress, it will promote nationwide talent development and grass root football, and also ensure a fairer geographical representation and minimise skewness in favour of or against some regions”
The proposal further explained that “ the rationale behind the running of the reserve league is to give opportunity for clubs to develop young players who normally might not command first team place in the Regular League”.
In his reaction, Mr Pobee wondered why Mr E.T. Mensah should propose a 20-club Premier League when he rejected the same idea when he was the Minister for Youth and Sports.
“ When Mr E.T. Mensah was in charge of the Sports Ministry, he flatly rejected the idea that clubs should be increased from 16 to 20 at a time that Kumapim Stars and Brong Ahafo United had been relegated to division one, with the excuse that, it would undermine the professionalism of the league”, he noted.
Wondering why the Minister should make a complete ‘U-turn, and at a time the 16 participating teams are struggling to generate the needed financial resources to run their teams in a more professional way, as stipulated by the Minister when he was the substantive Sports Minister, Mr Pobee said “nothing has changed much when Mr Mensah was the Minister in charge of Sports to warrant the increase of participating clubs from 16 to 20”.
He also expressed concern about a statement made by Mr Mensah, at the Castle to the effect that “the three important clubs- Accra Great Olympics, Sekondi Eleven Wise and Hassacas”— which were relegated should be considered to avoid creating idleness at their stadia”
He said such a statement is very discriminatory, explaining that all the clubs relegated from the Premier league since Mr Mensah was in charge of Sports, were blessed with playing fields.
He mentioned Tema Youth, Afienya United, Akotex, Dumas, Kumasi Cornerstone Kumapim Stars , Brong Ahafo United, Tano Bofoakwa and Neoplan Stars, among others, as “teams that deserved to stay in the Premier league, but because their performances were not up to standard at certain points in time, they were booted out from the Premier league to pave way for new entrants.
He said apart from the problem of generating funds internally to run their clubs in an effective and efficient way, the “sponsorship packages needed to support the clubs are woefully inadequate even for the 16 participating clubs , so why should we add more at a time that we are struggling to run our league in a more professional manner”?
He pointed out that even with the 16 participating clubs, the GFA is struggling to meet the deadlines in CAF and FIFA programmes and, therefore, raised a strong objection to what he described as government interference to add more clubs to the existing ones.
He said the addition would greatly affect the GFA in meeting the deadlines of international competitions .
Mr Pobee also expressed concern about the proposal to start a reserve side as curtain raisers to the Premier league.
He said it would add to the financial woes of the 16 participating clubs, especially in areas of feeding, transportation, accommodation and bonuses .
He therefore suggested that instead, the GFA should use the division one clubs as curtain raisers during premier league matches, saying “ it would make the division one league more attractive,”
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