Sports
Slave wages,threat to the local game!
Years back – some three or more decades ago, domestic football was a sheer delight – drawing thousands to fill the stands on match days.
Quality abound – and even though the players performed their act on relatively pitiably despicable pitches, some tantalizing football freely oozed out from the feet, carving out pretty patterns even to the blind eye.
Those were days when most of the players remained on home soil, not really enthusiastic on joining the ‘exodus bandwagon’ to seek greener pastures.
However, with the Ghanaian economy hitting a slump, especially in the 1980s, players began to file away in droves in the ‘90s as clubs could no longer afford the allowances and salaries of the playing body.
The domestic league was now beginning to suffer from quality play – and by extension poor patronage as empty seats stared in faces of the scanty fans around.
The already harsh situation was made even worse by the fans’ affection for foreign football to the detriment of the local game. None can totally blame the fans who have continuously explained off their decision to quality football in the English, Spanish, German and other elite games in Europe.
Lack of marquee, quality players has also culminated in Ghanaian clubs failing to win laurels in continental football for a long time.
Indeed, the last time a Ghanaian side annexed an African trophy was in 2004 when Hearts of Oak upstaged sworn rivals and fellow compatriots Asante Kotoko to win the CAF Confederation Cup. Kotoko themselves have not tasted African glory since 1983 – some 38 years ago, when they beat Al Ahly of Egypt to lift the African Clubs Championship crown (now CAF Champions League) for the second time.
Year-in-year-out, our players leave their clubs in midstream to clubs in less-endowed football countries that could only pay a notch higher than what they were taking back home.
Some elite clubs in Ghana pay as low as GH¢700 to GH¢2,000 to their top stars who would not shilly-shally to fly out abroad at the slightest opportunity.
President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana [SWAG], Kwabena Yeboah, is not enthused about the wages of Ghanaian local players.
According to him, the base salary for Asante Kotoko player in the year 2021, for example, should be US$2,000 and not the range of GH¢1,000 to GH¢2,000.
In an interview with Accra-based Starr FM, the veteran broadcaster said the club needed to build the team and sustain the players for a period of five to six years and also attract players from outside the jurisdiction of Ghana, describing the salaries of the club’s players as ‘slave wages’ which must be improved.
“If you really want to attract the best material, you must pay very well. What we pay players right now in Ghana, for me in blunt language, are slave wages.
“You cannot pay a Kotoko player you want to make a mark in Africa, and consistently wins matches for you a GH¢1,000, GH¢2,000. It’s a joke. The least any Kotoko player deserves, especially the starting players, is US$2,000 because you have your players leaving for Benin, to other parts of Africa because they’ve been cajoled and lured by US$1,000 a month because they cannot receive that kind of money here; so they will definitely leave.
“If you want to compete, I’m saying that the starting base [salary] should be US$2,000 as you look to improving the amount. Until we start doing that, our players will continue to leave in numbers – and we’ll continue to mark time.”
The SWAG President’s assertion might sound unrealistic and impracticable to some club owners, but looking more intently, that is plain talk from the iconic broadcaster. Rather, he is being super realistic. Truth is that, things have changed and we cannot afford to do run affairs of our clubs the way we were doing some decades back.
Our local players have howled for far too long and it is high time club owners put their act together and see how best to plant some smiles on the faces of these actors as regards their remunerations and allowances.
Until that is done, expect our players to head off in droves – at the slightest opportunity – as they yearn for better living condition.
The TnA Stadium in Tarkwa will come live tomorrow with a top of the table clash as title-chasing Medeama SC welcome defending champions, Bibiani Gold Stars, in a Match day 31 fixture of the Ghana Premier League (GPL).
Medeama has declared it “Operation Paint Tarkwa Yellow and Mauve” as they gear up for what connoisseurs see as a make or break fixture for both sides.
A win for the home side will stretch their lead on the log to five points and hand them a huge boost in their title aspirations, but a defeat will play into the hands of the visitors.
Both teams head into this fixture with two points separating them on the league log with Medeama SC leading with 53 points.
The first round tie at the Dun’s Park in Bibiani ended goalless, leaving all to be played for in this game.
Third placed side, Hearts of Oak, will trek to the Kwame Kyel Sports Complex to test their might against Nations FC.
Both have faced each other five times since 2023 with the Phobians winning twice, drawing same and losing once.
This season, the Phobians defeat Nation FC 1-0 in the first round game at home and will look to do a double over the Abrankese lads, a plot coach Frimpong Manso and his charges are scheming against.
Hearts have drawn thrice, won once and lost same in their last five games and are heading into the game on the back of a 1-0 loss on the road to Vision FC.
Coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani has charged his boys to put that defeat behind them and go for victory.
At the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park in Dormaa, fourth placed Aduana FC will be chasing their 13th win of the season when they welcome Heart of Lions in their penultimate home game.
The “Ogya Boys” will be seeking a double over the visitors after inflicting a 1-0 win over the Kpando lads at their own backyard last December.
Karela United will look to exact revenge on Young Apostles FC when they host them at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale.
Fifth-placed side, Samartex FC, will stay put at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena to host Basake Holy Stars.
Dreams FC will hope to worsen the plight of Asante Kotoko when they host them at the Tuba Astro Turf.
Vision FC will lock horns with Swedru All Blacks at the Nii Adjei Kraku Sports Complex in Tema today.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
Fierce competition for slots for the 2027 Africa Games continues today at the Borteyman Sports facility in Accra where over 300 athletes from 21 countries have converged to compete in the 15th Africa Armwrestling Championship.
The championship started yesterday with thrilling performances. The fireworks will continue today which happens to be the final day with eyes fixed on medals and ranking points to secure continental glory, and most importantly, a qualification to the 2027 African Games.
It has attracted tough competitors from traditional powerhouses such as Egypt, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa and host nation, Ghana.
They are known for their long-standing dominance in the sport, and are expected to provide stiff competition for the Ghana national Armwrestling team, The Golden Arms.
Also expected to stage a strong contest are the new forces in the Armwrestling arena.
Benin, Mauritius, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Kenya, Eswatini, Burundi, Niger, Senegal, Cote D’viore and Togo are all in town, ready to combat the ‘big guns’ despite their underdog status.
The arrival of South Africa and Benin in particular, adds a fresh competitive edge to the southern and West Africa representation of the tournament.
This edition is under the theme: ‘Pulling Africa Together,’ emphasising the role of sports in fostering regional integration and unity among member states.
Speaking ahead of the competition, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chairperson, Maame Efua Houadjeto, explained that the event provides a platform to bridge cultural gaps and strengthen the bond between African nations through fair play.
Maame Efua, who doubles as Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), also indicated the readiness of the LOC and the country to stage a very impressive championship.
“We are fully prepared to host a world-class championship that reflects the hospitality of Ghana. By bringing the continent to Accra, including our brothers and sisters from Egypt, Nigeria, and the rising stars from Benin and Mauritius, we have demonstrated that Africa is stronger when we lock hands.”
She continued that: “The theme: ‘Pulling Africa Together’ is a call for continental development and peace. We are ready to show that Ghana remains the heartbeat of African sports and the best in hospitality.”
Contributing, Mr Charles Osei Asibey, the President of Ghana and Africa Armwrestling, commended various partners, especially the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, Ghana Olympic Committee, National Sports Authority, National Petroleum Authority, National Health Insurance Authority, Bethel Logistics, Verna Water, Kofikrom Pharmacy Limited, Stanbic Bank, Kofata Motors, Royal Dach Pharmacy, IMAH Hospital, Event Factory, Awards Center, Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the Ghana Tourism Authority for the unflinching support for the championship.
On his part, Mr Kenneth Odeng Adade, the Chief Operations Officer for the championship, indicated that Borteyman complex has been fitted with international-standard Armwrestling tables and electronic systems to ensure a seamless experience..
As the competition officially ends today, the ‘Golden Arms’ of Ghana will be looking to leverage home-court advantage against the technical prowess of the Egyptians and the raw power of the Nigerians.
