We won’t withdraw from GHALCA -Techiman City tells J.Y

Techiman City FC have called the decision of former Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) boss, Joseph Yaw Appiah, to lead clubs in the Brong Ahafo region to withdraw their membership from GHALCA as an illegality and one that smacks of inferiority complex.

The action by JY Appiah followed disparaging remarks passed by Alhaji Ali Raji, about premier league outfit, Aduana Stars.

Alhaji Raji, the present chairman of GHALCA, was alleged to have tagged Aduana Stars a ‘village’ club not worthy of winning the just-ended G6 tournament played in Sekondi, moments after they qualified to the finals. The event was eventually won by Kumasi Asante Kotoko after defeating the Dormaa Ahenkro side.

Mr. Appiah, who is also the director of Tano Bofoakwa Football Club, is leading a crusade to see all 86 clubs in the Brong Aharfo Region, made up of 75 second division clubs, seven division one clubs and four Premier sides, to withdraw their membership from the club’s welfare body – if Alhaji Raji remains at post.

“We expect Alhaji Raji to come out and apologise but instead he is going round denying what he said and that has infuriated clubs from the Brong Ahafo region who are calling for his resignation from GHALCA or they would withdraw en bloc from the association.

“I have ordered for the drafting of an undertaking to be signed by all the Brong Ahafo region-based clubs so we pull out of GHALCA for good,” he stressed.

However, spokesperson of Techiman City FC, one of the Brong Ahafo clubs, Mr. Kofi Manu, has discredited the action of Mr. Appiah and noted that it is distasteful and an affront to the football fraternity.

“His action has no basis and the earlier he withdraws that threat, the better it would be for Ghana football.

“Yes, we all agree that what the GHALCA chairman said was not good and many have condemned it, but you do not base on that to say that what he said was against all Brong Ahafo clubs and so you would turn the clubs against the association.”

According to him, what Alhaji Raji was alleged to have said is not the official position of the association, so why would one want to bring the association into such an issue.

“FIFA frowns on actions based on tribal sentiments. His actions is an infringement on the status of our own GFA. It is wrong for him to make a regional grouping and say they are pulling out of an association.”

For him, Techiman City would not be party to such a shame and an illegality,” he told Asempa FM yesterday.