Ghana Rugby starts preparations for local league

The Ghana Rugby has started preparations for the 2014 / 15 Ghana Rugby Club Championship (GRCC) that is slated to take place in November 2014 and January to February 2015.

“Following the Ghana Rugby Stakeholder Forum on 14 August the Board left no stone unturned to transform dreams into reality by establishing various 'Blueprint Project Teams - one being a team to work out the modalities of a properly run Club Championship,” the President of the Ghana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), Mr. Herbert Mensah, announced in Accra.

Provisional preparations for the GRCC involve 12 Clubs from two Regional Associations to battle it out for top honours over 12 weeks with a total of 63 matches to be played.

The two Associations, Greater Accra and CentWest, will each have the opportunity to nominate 6 teams that will play a “Home and Away” match each to determine the top two teams that will advance to the semi-finals followed by a final to be played in Accra on 21 February 2015.

According to the GRFU Project Team there are many modalities and logistics to be sorted out including funding, playing fields, match officiating, transport, feeding and medical care to name but a few.

“There is great excitement amongst players, clubs and officials as this will be the first ever professional Club Tournament of this nature. We are, however, under no illusion that the successful planning and running of the GRCC will take a lot of will and effort,” a spokesperson for the GRFU Project Team stated.

Mr Sidney Yankson, newly appointed Director of Fundraising, admitted that even setting a budget for the event was no mean task.

“This is the first ever Club Championship of this nature and it took a while to figure out what is required to run the GRCC professionally while ensuring maximum benefits to sponsors,” Mr. yankson said.

The estimated cost to run the Championship is US$ 75,000 and according to Mr. Yankson. Meanwhile Clubs have also been requested to raise funds to cover the Tournament Registration Fee.

“These fees will by no means cover the total cost of the tournament, but will also instill a discipline by our Clubs to look at all aspects of managing a Club, including the task of financial management,” he said.

The GRFU has also embarked on a Rugby Family-wide programme to reach out to potential sponsors.

The President of the GRFU, Mr. Herbert Mensah, in discussion with IRB Trainer David Dobela at the Coaches Training Course held to prepare Club coaches for the upcoming league.