GFA withholds Asamoah's registration

Accra, Nov. 21, GNA - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has withheld the registration of Alex Asamoah by Kumasi Asante Kotoko following protests raised by his former club Obuasi Ashantigold FC (Ashgold). According to the GFA, the player will not be eligible to play for the 'Porcupine Warriors' in the 2008/9 Premier League soccer season until the issue is resolved.

The Premier League kick starts on Sunday, with Kotoko taking on city rivals King Faisal at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi. A letter dated November 21 and signed by Kweku Ampim Darko, Deputy General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association states that "at the end of the verification of registered players, the registration of player Alex Asamoah by Asante Kotoko is withheld until the matter is disposed of by the FA."

Information gathered by GNA Sports indicates that Ashantigold wrote to the GFA on Wednesday, November 19, protesting the validity of Asamoah's release on the grounds that Kotoko had reneged on the terms of the transfer agreement signed between the two Clubs. The letter quoted Article 33 of the GFA regulations, which bars clubs from inducing players and players from accepting such inducement or approaches when their contract is not less than six months from expiry.

According to sections of the contract agreement between the two clubs, Kotoko conceded that they had breached the rules on player acquisition by signing an employment contract with Asamoah whilst he still has a valid contract with Ashantigold. It added that Kotoko also agreed to play two friendly matches with Ashantigold with proceeds to be shared between the two Clubs. Following the latest arrangement, a special friendly was to have been played on Sunday, November 16 but Kotoko could not participate in the said match while a subsequent one also set for Thursday, November 20 also failed to materialise.

Information gathered by GNA Sports has it that Kotoko was to release two players - Kwame Obeng Darko and David Sarkodie on free transfer as part of the transfer agreement. Obeng-Darko was however said to have rejected the move, thereby complicating the transfer saga.

According to officials of Ashgold, they are employing every official means possible to resolve the impasse. An official confirmed that they had made approaches to the FA to resolve the matter.