Sports
What’s cause of pitiable patronage of our league?
Generally, poor attendance at local games in the country has been a huge cause of concern over the years.
The saturnine situation, however, appears to be going from bad to worst – particularly since last year, in the wake of the economic downturn the nation is experiencing at the moment.
Though the passion for the game may still be high, one may have to put a few figures together – work out the permutations, before considering either to go for a game or not.
Aside from the pecuniary concerns, however, the poor maintenance of our pitches, is driving lots of fans away from the game because quality play is compromised.
Somewhere last year, we were told by the National Sports Authority (NSA) that the Accra Sports Stadium was going to be unavailable for the Premier League Clubs that use the facility only for it to be rented out for other purposes – and its attendant pitch obliterations.
Affected clubs were subsequently asked to look for alternatives. Though partly a cause, that may not be the reason for the massive dispiriting patronage we have witnessed in games, of late.
To some extent, the performance of the senior national team (Black Stars) at the recently-ended World Cup tournament in Qatar, could be having a toll on the league.
The Stars were kicked out in the opening round of the campaign, winning a game and losing two. It was the team’s second consecutive calamitous first round exit – following the 2014 disturbing episode in Brazil.
Had Ghana glowed in Qatar, the performance would have rubbed off on the nation’s league. The zeal, enthusiasm, passion and avidity of the fans would have rocketed through the roof.
Some ardent followers of the domestic game are also blaming the low attendance at match venues to e-ticketing.
They say a good number of the fans are not particularly enthused about the electronic system and are ready to pay cash at the gate to secure their seats.
However, the Chief Executive Officer of E-Ticketing, George Festus Mensah, has rubbished such claims, insisting that various match venues were recording very poor attendance long ago.
“Those blaming poor attendance on our services should first ask themselves what were clubs revenue before the introduction of e-tickets and after the service was introduced.
“We should check the time games are played; sometimes we schedule games at 3pm during working days, whilst fixtures are also changed without proper communication. There are times match venues are changed without proper plans,” the E-Ticketing CEO proposed.
Mr Mensah cannot be far from right, and we may need clubs to further educate their fans on the dynamics of the E-ticketing and how it has come to stop corruption at the gates.
Be that as it may, it is imperative for the game’s stakeholders to come together and figure out what really the problem is in a bid to proffer a lasting solution.
Having seen a near-full capacity crowd in the game between Bibiani Goldstars and Aduana Stars on Monday suggests that it is not an all-too disconcerting situation. It can be better if we find a way of promoting the league whilst we work industriously towards improving on the quality of our pitches.
PlainTalk with John Vigah
The Tarkwa and Aboso enclave of the Western Region will come alive tomorrow as league leaders, Medeama SC, welcome Kpando Heart of Lions to the TnA Stadium for their final home game of the Ghana Premier League.
This penultimate fixture of the season could see Medeama clinch the league title, provided they secure a victory and second-place Bibiani Gold Stars lose their match.
To celebrate the occasion, Medeama SC management has engaged the Ghanaian musical duo, DopeNation, famed for their current global hit ‘Kakalika,’ to entertain fans.
Medeama posted a 1-0 victory over the visitors in their first-round fixture. If that result is anything to go by, then crowning the Tarkwa lads as champions may not be far-fetched.
At the Tuba Astro Turf, defending champions, Gold Stars, must pick up all three points against Dreams FC if they aim to keep the challenge on Medeama.
Tenth-placed Bechem United FC will look to push further up the ladder by taking all three points when they host record league winners, Asante Kotoko, at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park.
Bechem United is not mathematically safe from the drop, as a defeat could push them back into the relegation mix.
Meanwhile, Hearts of Oak SC will travel to the Nsenkyire Sports Arena in Samreboi to face the might of Samartex FC.
After a 3-0 home victory over Karela United last week, Vision FC will trek to the Kwame Kyei Sports Complex in Abrankese to face Nations FC in a high-stakes battle to avoid relegation.
In other matches, the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium will come alive as Karela United hosts Swedru All Blacks FC. The latter needs at least a point, to bolster their survival bid.
Aduana FC will welcome Wenchi-based Young Apostles FC to the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park in Dormaa in a fixture expected to be full of fireworks.
Finally, the already-relegated Eleven Wonders remain at the Swedru Stadium to welcome Berekum Chelsea FC.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
Wednesday (May 13) was a memorable day for fans of Division One League (DOL) side, Debibi United.
The club made history on that fateful afternoon as they registered a 3-1 win over Tamale City in the Access Bank Division One League playoff final to secure promotion to the Ghana Premier League for the first time.
Words alone cannot describe the emotional sights and scenes at the Accra Sports Stadium after the final whistle.
But those emotional scenes were understandable as they conceded the first goal of the game and were pinned to their half of the field for greater spells by a determined Tamale City side that also aimed a return to the elite stage of Ghana football, which they have tasted once.
But without that experience, Debibi showed character and refused to be suppressed and bullied by the Tamale lads.
They produced a stunning turnaround led by striker Kwadwo Antwi who delivered a match-winning performance by scoring a hat-trick to complete the 3-1 comeback victory.
Debibi United joined as the third club to have officially secured promotion from the Access Bank Division One League to the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League after winning their respective zones.
The two others were Port City and FC AshantiGold 04.
Port City emerged victors from Zone Three where they showed character against some very tough opponents including former Premier League sides, Accra Great Olympics, Okwahu United and a few others.
FC AshantiGold 04 topped Zone Two to book their place in the top flight.
But due to peculiar challenges in Zone One, the group has been divided into two with the respective winners facing each other in a play-off final to determine which side snatches the sole ticket for qualification.
Without doubt, the three clubs have done extremely well by qualifying from a stage of Ghana football which is often described as the wilderness of Ghana football.
It should surely be a reward for their hard work and not as a result of some of the funny stories about club collusions and maneuvers.
Although the DOL has undergone a lot of transformations to make it very competitive, the ‘wilderness of Ghana football’ tag is still associated with it as reports about poor officiating leading to questionable calls still fly around.
With little or no evidence to substantiate some of these, one has no reason to doubt their quality and readiness for life at the elite stage of Ghana football.
However, there is a trend in the past few years where clubs that gain promotion freshly suffer the fate of going back in the next season.
That trend is one that must influence their preparation for the GPL to avoid that path of history.
Thirty-four weeks of competition is no joke and the expectation and demands differ from what they are used to in DOL. Survival would mean consistency with results and ability to face the challenges that comes with life at the top.
By Andrew Nortey
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