Hearts of Oak Supporters Chief Makes Strive

The National Chairman of the Accra Hearts of Oak Supporters, Mr Yussif Abdulai, has launched a grassroots initiative aimed at reviving interest in the Ghana Premier League (GPL), particularly among children, as part of efforts to secure the future of Ghanaian football.

The initiative comes at a time when many Ghanaian football fans, especially the youth, are increasingly drawn to European leagues such as the English Premier League and Spain’s La Liga, often at the expense of domestic football.

Speaking at a meeting with the Regional Chapters Committee (RCC) executives at the GHALCA Office Conference Room inside the Accra Sports Stadium, Mr Abdulai announced plans to involve children directly in following the GPL by encouraging match attendance and club identification from an early age.

As part of the programme, the Chairman has distributed free club-branded jerseys to children to stimulate interest in the local league, conveys them to the stadium on match days, and fosters long-term loyalty to Ghanaian clubs.

Mr Abdulai said supporters, as key stakeholders in football development, have a responsibility to complement the efforts of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

“Our league has a future if we deliberately invest in the next generation. We want a time when children can debate the Ghana Premier League with facts and mention local players just as confidently as they do foreign stars,” he stated.

The initiative was widely applauded by RCC Chairmen present at the meeting, who described it as timely and forward-looking. Many commended the decision, and taut his effort for blazing a trail that starts with Glorious Accra Hearts of Oak and hope other teams will emulate it.

They urged supporters’ unions of other Ghana Premier League clubs to adopt similar programmes to collectively rebuild interest in local football.

Some RCC Chairmen also called on the Minister for Youth and Sports to formally recognise the effort and engage Mr Abdulai in developing a national framework that could extend the initiative across the country.

Mr Yussif Abdulai, who has spent only a few months in office as NCC Chairman, has earned praise from supporters for what many describe as proactive and impactful leadership. Members of the supporters’ union expressed optimism that the initiative would contribute meaningfully to the revival of the Ghana Premier League.

By Michael Doe Dzade
(Secretary – Volta Regional Chapters Committee)