Sports
GFA budget versus Adams’ axe
Anyone interested in how the public purse is disbursed and applied would surely applaud the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Adams, for the measures taken to protect it.
Mr Adams slightly took the shine off the Black Stars’ preparation for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Mali with the disclosure of a budget submitted by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for the two matches.
Additionally, he announced drastic cuts to the said budget, a move he indicated was to ensure fiscal discipline as directed by the President, John Dramani Mahama.
By the information made available, the GFA submitted a budget of $2,053,240 for the organisation and preparation of the team for the two matches.
The amount was to also pay mouthwatering bonuses and allowances that makes one wonder how certain amounts have been made to look like ‘chicken change’ or ‘coins.’
In certain quarters, the Sports and Recreation Minister has been hailed for the decision that is explained to have saved the nation an amount of $732,750.00.
“The Ministry subjected the estimates to a detailed internal review and identified line items that required adjustment, clarification, and removal, guided by government’s current fiscal posture and the need for prudent spending,” the Minister was reported to have said.
That was obviously a great move although some aspects and postures of the Ministry has not gone down well with the FA, and the public would wait rather impatiently to know the content of its promised reaction after the double-header.
Football, indeed, remains an expensive venture and any participant must be ready to meet it demands if the dream is to reap its full benefits.
From the provision of infrastructure, acquisition of logistics to per diem and bonus payment, one would need to break the bank to stay at a level considered as standard.
This becomes a headache for countries with smaller economies like Ghana that struggles to provide infrastructure like schools, hospitals, roads, provision of water, shelter and many other basic needs.
It, therefore, beats the imagination of many how Ghana is able to pay huge bonuses and allowances, some of which can be compared to other national teams at their best.
Interestingly, some of the line items were deemed untouchable. For example, the chartered flight that cost the tax payer $300,000, players’ per diem of $150, and $200 for technical staff and officials escaped the ‘Adams axe.’
Expenses like bonuses for players couldn’t swerve the chopping board, suffering 50 per cent cuts – meaning players would take $5,000 instead of $10,000 as winning bonuses.
Coach Otto Addo would still smile to the bank with $10,000 although he would be happier with the $20,000 the FA wanted to pay.
Additionally, the bonus for the assistant coaches were reduced from $10,000 to $5,000, those of the team doctor, physiotherapist, video analyst, and psychologist were reduced from $10,000 to $4,000, with the kit officers, media officer, masseur, welfare officer, and dietician taking $4,000 instead of $8,000 with the $10,000 bonus for management officials cancelled.
The team’s imprest was also reduced from $60,000 to $20,000, while facility user fees of $2,000 and internal transport (fuel) of $5,000 were removed.
What is assuring is that the development will not affect the team’s psyche in anyway as players and officials remain greatly motivated to secure Ghana’s qualification.
But the chapter is not closed until the FA releases its promised response to bring clarity on issues it appears uncomfortable with.
By Andrew Nortey
Ghana Premier League side, Nations FC, may have suffered the drop in the just ended Premier League and are destined for a fresh campaign in the Division One League (DOL).
But they stand a huge chance of remaining in the elite stage of the game as they face Dreams FC in an epic MTN FA Cup final at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium tomorrow at 6pm.
Dreams FC have been there before; going ahead to taste the honours in the 2022-23 season after defeating King Faisal.
Coming from a season that saw them crawl from the initial stages of the league to finish on a respectable fourth position, they come in as strong favourites to double their honours in the nation’s second top football competition.
History favours them in this regard. On their first final, they conquered and based on this, connoisseurs of the game have tipped them to make it ‘two-on-two.’
But Nations FC have been empowered by the age-old adage that “He that is down need fear no fall.”
Nothing can be worse than suffering relegation and exiting the limelight as far as exposure is concerned.
But the FA offers a decent opportunity to make them stay relevant.
Conquering Dreams FC would not just make them MTN FA Cup champions. It will grant them the prestigious slot to represent Ghana in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) second tier club competition- the Confederations Cup.
With Dreams FC harbouring the same ambitions, the stage is, therefore, set for a final that promises to be explosive and uncompromising.
The situation of Nations FC might have come to many as a surprise, considering their promising start to the season, with their defence especially, marshalled by Black Stars defender, Razak Simpson, and colleague central defender, Raymond Grippman, earning a lot of reviews.
But despite the struggles they endured at certain times of their campaign, the MTN FA Cup always provided slices of good fortunes as they managed to navigate their way to the final.
Road to the top
Nations FC began the MTN FA Cup competition on a promising note, enjoying some good runs with a win over DOL Zone Two side, Ebony FC, in the Round of 64.
That landed them in a tricky encounter with another high-flying Zone Two candidate, AshantiGold SC, a side that eventually won the title from the zone to qualify to the Premier League, but escaped.
At the round of 16 stage, they encountered and defeated Ghana Premier League side, Swedru All Blacks, 2-1 to gain progression to the quarter final stage where they edged Berekum Chelsea on penalties.
A dicey semi-final awaited them against Aduana FC in Swedru. It was a game Nations was given little chance to escape considering Aduana FC’s form but once again, they conquered to secure a final berth.
In total, the Abrankese-based club have scored eight goals and conceded only two throughout the competition, making them one of the strongest defensive sides in the tournament.
For Dreams FC, they defeated Division One League Zone Three side, Semper Fi, 2-1 to progress to the next stage of the competition where they accounted for Division Two side, Asanska FC, 2-0.
That handed them a quarterfinal berth where they faced Inter Allies and drew one all before winning 4-3 on penalties.
The happiest moment in their success story was a 3-2 semi-final win over GPL winners, Medeama SC.
With that feat, Dreams have been touted as potential winners as the match comes at a time the Nations FC side may be psychologically down over the weight of the challenge they face in the next season.
However, the competition has gain notoriety for not following any form guide and outcomes mostly coming as major surprises.
In this regard, Dreams may be tipped as favourite candidates but though Nations are wounded, the stakes could revive an insatiable desire to apply the brakes to turn the dreams of Dreams FC into a nightmare.
Support
The support from MTN Ghana has no doubt improved competition among the clubs with the attractive incentive packages for participating clubs.
MTN Ghana, which is celebrating 30 years of operations in Ghana, formally became headline sponsors of the Ghana FA Cup in the 2010/2011 football season after the competition had returned from an eight-year hiatus.
The first edition under MTN sponsorship was won by Nania FC, who defeated Asante Kotoko 1–0 in the final at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Since then, the competition has been known as the MTN FA Cup, with MTN renewing its sponsorship several times — in 2013, 2017, 2020 and again for subsequent seasons.
By Andrew Nortey
The Black Stars have opened camp in Cardiff ahead of next week’s international friendly against Wales.
The team is being taken through training drills by head coach Carlos Queiroz.
Thirteen players trained at Dragon Park on Monday, with others expected to join the squad on Tuesday.
They include Ernest Nuamah, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Jordan Ayew, Caleb Yirenkyi, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Elisha Owusu, Gideon Mensah, Marvin Senaya, Jerome Opoku, Benjamin Asare, Joseph Anang, Solomon Agbasi, and Alidu Seidu.
The Black Stars will train in Cardiff for one week ahead of the international friendly against Wales on Tuesday, June 2, before traveling to the United States of America.
Coach Carlos Queiroz will use the period to assess his players before naming his final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Twenty-six players will be submitted to FIFA on Monday, June 1, as mandated by the competition regulations.
The Black Stars are drawn in Group L with Panama, England, and Croatia. They will open their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto before facing England and Croatia in their other group matches.
