Division One League: No Show?

THE Ghana Football Association (GFA) has assured football enthusiasts that this year's national first division soccer league will take off at all cost and completed without any hitch despite the legal action taken against it by Mighty Jets F/C.

Mr Kofi Nsiah, General Secretary of the GFA, who gave the assurance, further stated that the relegation of some premier league clubs and the promotion of division one teams to replace them, is also on course.

Mr Nsiah was interacting with journalists at Sunyani last weekend after presenting sports equipment valued at ?22 million to the Brong Ahafo Regional Football Association (RFA) at a ceremony at Sunyani.

The equipment comprised a computer with its printer, a fax machine and alternative power supply system with their accessories.

Mr Nsiah said the form the league would take, would depend on the outcome of the court case.

He said after the court's ruling, the GFA's Executive Council would meet to take a decision on the competition.

Mr Nsiah said the GFA has been mandated to organise football nationwide and all clubs under it should abide by its rules and regulations.

He said any club that wants to withdraw from any competition should give the association eight days notice before doing so.

"In the case of Mighty Jets, it wrote to the GFA that it had withdrawn from the division one league assigning reasons for its withdrawal as financial difficulties before informing the association", Mr Nsiah stated.

He said when the GFA meted out punishment to the club, it pleaded with the 36-member Executive Council of the association, which is the executive wing of the GFA for forgiveness.

According to the General Secretary, the GFA?s Executive Council ruled that the association was right in suspending Mighty Jets, adding that when the matter went to congress, it said it would do nothing to overturn the GFA?s action. He said instead of serving at least six months of its three-year ban and then appealing to the GFA to reconsider its decision, Mighty Jets took the matter to court against the association?s rules and regulations.

Mr Nsiah said the GFA is empowered by its regulations to sanction any club that sends it to court or the club itself should opt out of any competition organised by the association.

He said FIFA supports GFA?s action since it has realised that the association has not faltered in its action on Mighty Jets.

Mr Nsiah stated that the GFA is prepared to go to the Supreme Court for interpretation or else other clubs would emulate Mighty Jets? example and this could hamper the smooth running of football in the country.

"We shall not sit down for only one club to undermine the other 47 teams who are desirous in ensuring the smooth running of the league in the country", he emphasised.

According to Mr Nsiah, in all the association purchased 12 computers, 11 fax machines and their accessories valued at ?250 million for distribution to all the 10 RFAs nationwide while the Referees Association of Ghana was presented with one fax machine to enhance its work.

Mr Yaw Adjei-Duffour, the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, received the items and handed them to the RFA secretary, Mr Kwaku Munufie.

The Deputy Minister thanked the GFA for the donation and urged members of the RFA to take proper care of them in order to prolong their lifespan.

Present at the function were Messrs Anane Frempong and Kwasi Owusu, coach and assistant coach, respectively.

Mr Munufie appealed to the GFA to equip the RFA and also present them with an air conditioner.