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 Ghana Premier League (GPL) enters another exciting weekend with Asante Kotoko and Medeama SC set for a crucial showdown while Accra Hearts of Oak seek to strengthen their title challenge and FC AshantiGold 04 begin life after the departure of Coach Abdul Karim Zito.
The Matchday 9 fixtures, scheduled for today and tomorrow, promise another round of compelling contests as clubs battle for early season supremacy, continental ambitions and stability.
The headline fixture is the meeting between the Porcupine Warriors and the Mauve and Yellow at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium tomorrow where both sides will be eager to make a statement.
Kotoko will have the advantage of home support but the Tarkwa-based side are expected to provide a stern test for the Porcupine Warriors.
The Kumasi giants have endured an inconsistent opening to the campaign, with their recent results highlighting the need for greater consistency if they are to mount a serious title challenge.
Their 1-1 draw with FC AshantiGold 04 in the previous fixture underlined the difficulties they have faced in turning competitive performances into maximum points.
Against Medeama, the Reds must combine defensive discipline with greater attacking efficiency. Playing before their home supporters could provide the necessary lift, but they would need to avoid giving the visitors opportunities to exploit any defensive lapses.
Medeama, meanwhile, will travel to Kumasi determined to demonstrate why they are among the teams expected to challenge for the title.
For both clubs, victory would offer more than three points. It would provide an important psychological boost and strengthen their position in an increasingly competitive title race.
Hearts of Oak will also be among the teams attracting considerable attention as they travel to face Debibi United tomorrow.
The Phobians have made encouraging progress in recent weeks, with their defensive solidity and growing confidence giving supporters reasons to believe that a sustained title challenge is possible.
Their 1-0 victory over Basake Holy Stars, secured through Martin Karikari’s late strike, strengthened their position at the summit of the league after eight matches. The result also extended their winning run to three matches.
However, maintaining that momentum away from home will be another test of their credentials.
Debibi United will be determined to frustrate the visitors and use home advantage to their benefit.
Hearts must, therefore, approach the encounter with patience and discipline, particularly if their opponents adopt a compact defensive approach.
With the standings still capable of changing significantly at this early stage, maximum points could help Hearts consolidate their position at the top or reclaim it, depending on the results of their closest challengers.
Another major talking point is the decision by FC AshantiGold 04 to part ways with Head Coach and Technical Director, Abdul Karim Zito, Assistant Coach Ernest Okyere, and goalkeepers’ trainer, Robert Dabo.
The development comes as AshantiGold prepare to visit Swedru All Blacks tomorrow, presenting an immediate test for the club’s caretaker technical team.
The question is whether the coaching changes will produce the desired reaction or further unsettle a side still searching for consistency.
Swedru All Blacks, who will enjoy home advantage, will be keen to capitalise on any disruption within the visitors’ camp.
Elsewhere, Aduana FC would host Berekum Chelsea in a potentially tight contest, while Basake Holy Stars welcome Dreams FC.
Heart of Lions will face Bechem United, and Samartex take on Bibiani Gold Stars in another intriguing fixture. Vision FC will meet Port City today, while Young Apostles host Karela United tomorrow.
By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw
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THE 24th edition of the Accra Seniors Tennis Open Championship, organised by the Accra Lawn Tennis Club, is scheduled to take place from Monday, November 23 to Saturday, December 5, 2026, organisers have announced.
Consequently, registration for the tournament has opened, offering professional and amateur players an opportunity to participate in the competition that assembles the best of the aged in the tennis fraternity.
Registration will close on Friday, November 20, 2026, with the draw and viewing for the competition scheduled for Saturday, November 21, 2026 and Sunday, November 22, 2026, respectively.
Entry fees have been pegged at GH¢150 for the singles event and GH¢200 for the doubles event.
Matches will be played on weekdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The competition will feature various categories, including ladies’ singles, men’s singles, ladies’ doubles, men’s doubles, advanced social singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles.
In the ladies’ singles event, players will compete in different age categories, including those aged up to 39 years.
The men’s singles event will feature players in the 25–34, 35–44 and 55–64 age categories.
For the ladies’ doubles event, participants will compete in the under-40 and 40-and-above categories, while the men’s doubles event will feature players aged 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, 65–69 and 70 years and above.
The advanced social singles and doubles categories, for both men and women, are designed for high-level amateur players seeking competitive matches outside the demands of professional and semi-professional circuits.
The mixed doubles event will also provide an opportunity for players to compete in combined male and female pairings.
The tournament is expected to attract players of different ages and skill levels, with spectators anticipated to witness exciting displays of skill, technique and sportsmanship throughout the competition.
By Benjamin Arcton-Tettey
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