Kumasi, Sept 20, GNA - The President of the Ghana Football Association, (GFA) Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi has announced that the Association was working around the clock to ensure that the 2007/2008 Premier League commences in October.

"We are working feverishly to clear all outstanding cases impeding the commencement of the league as soon as possible, he told newsmen in Kumasi on Wednesday in an interaction.

Mr Nyantakyi stressed that the GFA would soon go the Congress during which a date would be fixed for the league to commence as well as drawing of the format for the much-awaited event.

This year's Premier league had been marred by a lot of controversies, especially legal disputes, which had contributed greatly to the delay in its kick-off.

On the dismal performances of the national teams at recent international competitions, the GFA President called for massive investment in the teams to enable them live up to expectation. Mr Nyantakyi decried the low sponsorship package and patronage for women's football in the country, noting that this had an adverse effect on the performance of the Black Queens, the senior national women's team.

"Some of the current players of the Black Queens have spent about 10 years in the team without replacement", he noted.

He added that lack of modification in the team as a result of the non-availability of enough funds to sponsor women's football was responsible for the abysmal performance of the Queens at the on-going FIFA Women's World Cup in China.

Whilst commending the Black Starlets for their sterling performance at the recent FIFA Under-17 World Cup held in South Korea, Mr Nyantakyi impressed upon Ghanaian clubs to develop good academies and vibrant programmes to help tap the potentials inherent in the youth.

He said such programmes would also enable the nation to turn out talented footballers capable of "replacing the Essien's, Appiah's and Muntari's and others when they finally leave the scene".

On the performance of the Black Stars, the GFA President expressed optimism that the team would put behind them their recent 0-5 humiliating loss to Saudi Arabia and look ahead as they seek to win next year's African Cup of Nations (CAN 2008) to be hosted by Ghana. 20 Sept. 07