THE commencement of a new football season brings joy to football fans across the globe.

The fans are assured of quality game time on television or at the stadium watching the games live.

In the advance countries where football is managed like big business, that joy permeates into boardrooms of the various clubs because of the huge sums of money to hit the team’s account from sources like sponsorships, television rights and others.

The situation is similar here in Ghana where we have the Ghana Premier League (GPL).

The start of the season makes everyone happy but not for the earlier reasons cited.

They are only happy because they would start earning some peanuts from the gates to pay meagre salaries and allowances of players.

Characteristically, the league starts on a competitive note with every team striving to be considered a top force.

But, after sometime, that competition disappears and the reason is obvious – players unpaid for months and are playing on empty stomachs.

The situation makes it more difficult for the club owners, whose hopes of earning some ‘coins’ from the game proceeds, ends up as fiction and fantasies with a lot of fans developing the penchant to go to the stadium for free or using other means to gain entry.

To make matters worse for the clubs, the affluent who can afford an entire season ticket gain entry to the stadium with companions, all wielding complimentary cards; denying clubs the money to pay players.

However, the FA’s announcement of the disbursement of a total of GH₵18 million to the 18 GPL clubs would no doubt correct some of these challenges clubs face.

Courtesy a landmark partnership with Adesa Productions Limited, FA President, Kurt Okraku, announced the new deal that cushions Premier League clubs with a million each, an amount promised to be paid before the start of the season.

That support would no doubt enhance club operations, improve player welfare and raise overall competitiveness.

The move must be hailed by all. Forget about the beliefs and thoughts in some quarters that it was Okraku’s reward for the GPL clubs for endorsing the new three-term presidency of the FA.

It will no doubt be a huge legacy every FA President would work hard to improve upon or sustain.

Firmly in the accounts of the respective clubs, it is important that the FA and Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG) monitor the disbursement or use of this money.

They must ensure that the reason for the gesture was realised so that the funds are not spent of new vehicles, new phones and other accessories.

With improved salaries or allowances, I am sure it would affect teams and individual performances, stretching to improve the competitiveness of the competition and eventually, attract more corporate sector players.

 By Andrew Nortey

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