Sports
Use COVID-19 break to address league challenges – Former GFA presidential aspirant
President of Division One League (DOL) club, Phar Rangers, Nana Yaw Amponsah, has asked the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and other stakeholders to take advantage of the break occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic to solve some of the challenges encountered in the football league.
Nana Amponsah stated in an interview that, “there are bad pitches across the country which is affecting our football and we cannot resume without doing anything about it. We need to take advantage of the current situation to improve upon conditions at our league centres,” he stated.
The former FA presidential candidate said the FA had not been proactive enough in its approach in ensuring the resumption of football in Ghana.
“Currently, pitches are in bad shapes due to the lack of football and cannot be ready for use in the next one or two months; making it impossible to start the league in the coming days,” he stressed.
According to Nana Amponsah, the earliest time the league can resume is September to allow the authorities to work on the pitches and other essentials.
“With that, a new league must be started with the old one cancelled. There should be no promotion and demotion.
“The earlier we take a decision on the league, the better it would be for us, but we must ensure we put things in the right place before we resume,” he cautioned.
Nana Amponsah said the importance of football in the country cannot be quantified with its power to prevent crime and offers of a job for players.
He said it was important to make Ghana’s football attractive on the international scene but before that, the FA must first make it attractive on the home front, adding that, “this is what will make the transfer market attractive as players move from one team to the other, leading to improved cash flow and subsequently, boost the football economy”.
The Phar Rangers boss urged clubs to position themselves well to benefit from government’s US$600 million stimulus package for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) affected by COVID-19.
“My club and others have been registered as limited liability companies at the Registrar General’s Department and not by the FA so we can access such funds on our own without having to pass through the FA,” he explained.
In Nana Amponsah’s view, the GFA has been insensitive to its members during the COVID-19 period as they spent the available money on office renovation instead of thinking about the well-being of the players.
He asked the GFA to reconsider its position on the $500,000 package from FIFA to support revenue losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic and make it available to clubs to support their teams.
BY MICHAEL D. ABAYATEYE
Black Stars captain Jordan Ayew says Ghana will leave nothing on the pitch when they face England in today’s World Cup Group L decider at Gillette Stadium.
With both teams on 3 points, Ayew said his job is to ease pressure on the younger players and hold everyone accountable, himself included.
“I’m doing my best to guide the boys, make them comfortable, take pressure off them, and help us perform,” Ayew told reporters. “I have to perform too. They have to perform too. It’s teamwork. We’re helping each other.”
Ghana come into the Foxborough clash after a 1-0 win over Panama in Toronto. England beat Croatia 4-2 in their opener.
The captain’s message was simple, “We’re going to give our 100% and we’re going to fight. I’ll make sure when we come off that pitch, we have no regrets.”
The winner takes control of Group L. Kickoff is 4:00 PM ET at Gillette Stadium.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Black Stars forward Brandon Thomas-Asante insists Ghana will carry no pressure into Tuesday’s World Cup showdown with England at Boston Stadium, saying the team’s self-belief and sense of purpose outweigh outside expectations.
Brandon provided a 95th minute assist that helped Ghana beat Panama 1-0 in Toronto.
The win left both Ghana and England level on three points in Group L following the Three Lions 4-2 over Croatia in their opening match.
Speaking to ghanafa.org Thomas-Asante is adamant that external doubt only fuels the squad.
“Everything to the best ability, it’s very much a case of we back ourselves, we believe in ourselves. Whether people on the outside doubt us, believe us, or anything that’s not what we think about. We think about why we’re here. We’re on a mission,” Thomas-Asante said.
The Coventry City forward said that mission removes any weight of expectation. “That means there’s no pressure. It’s even less pressure for us,” he explained.
“We know our fans believe, but we know that some people might want to overlook us. We use that to our advantage preparing properly and believing that we can go and do something,” He added.
England and Ghana both sit on three points heading into the Foxborough clash, with the winner set to take control of Group L. Kickoff at Boston Stadium on Tuesday.
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