Accra, Oct 28 - GNA - A Nigerian sports philanthropist, Prince Dokun Abidoye said the answer to the decline in Ghana football is a stronger Ghalca that will have the clout to offer a visionary leadership to the clubs to make them financially buoyant.

In an interview with the GNA Sports, Prince Abidoye who is popularly referred to as "the Pillar of Sports in Africa" said Ghalca should be made up men who can attract huge investments for the league and improve the financial bases of the clubs, while they remain honest enough to sustain the confidence of the components.

He said when that is done, players will be better taken of and their commitment to the game will rise, culminating in better performances on the field of play, thus improving the local league. The Pillar of Sports in Africa said he has been a close follower of the Ghanaian game and believes that the biggest problem facing it is the lack of capital.

"Without money, the game will not grow and even the most skilful players will begin to lose interest and fade away sooner than later because they will not derive benefits commensurate with their skills and output in matches.

He said if players are "better fed and adequately remunerated, the league will be the winner as the standard will rise and more spectators will be willing to dispose of their money as gate fees to watch matches. The business tycoon said it should be the responsibility of Ghalca to market the league through TV and other electronic media and pay annual subventions to the GFA.

"It should be mandatory for the clubs to go PLC (Public Liability Company) and allow wealthy citizens to invest in them in order to run them as businesses with the motive for profit. When that is done the clubs can own their stadia and clubhouses and develop with time.

"When the clubs become profitable ventures, they will attract private capital and give a true professional meaning to Ghanaian football, which is a breeding ground of very talented football players."

Prince Abidoye said for the game to flourish, the GFA must endeavour to generate money to take care of its requirements, adding that, "as long as the government continues to dole out the money, they will continue to impose anybody on the people to run the association." He said it will also be very necessary for clubs to educate their fans against violence at the stadia because many more people will watch matches if they consider match venues safe enough.

The shipping magnate advised stakeholders in the Ghanaian game to ensure that politics in kept away from it, as it would crack the walls of unity and lead to poor invitations and selections into the national teams.

He said it should be the responsibility of every one to participate in the fight to get the Ghanaian game back into top reckoning and advised players, administrators and coaches to be "spiritually committed" to the cause. 28 Oct 03