GFA NC vs GPL Clubs: Another Taste Of Local Football Out Of Reach?

A vivid look at football through a prism and you can clearly see the reflected beautiful rays of the most popular sport in the World. Described as the beautiful game; it has the tendency of harmonizing foes, friends, employers and employees and family for a period of 90 minutes in either stadiums, bars, workplaces or homes.

In Ghana, a country seen as one of the exciting footballing nations in the World has been plunged into a gloomy phase with the biggest football scandal to ever hit the country; an investigative piece on bribery and corruption in the country’s football by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, hence, bringing an abrupt end to domestic competitions.

An abrupt end to the Ghana Premier League as a result of the selfish desires of individuals sucked the life out of the excitement on the streets by the various local supporters, the blasting of commentary from big speakers in bars, the sheer excitement at the sight of a goal being scored in parked stadiums – only to be replaced by the sounds of birds echoing in empty stadiums and dead streets.

Light at the end of the tunnel for the football fraternity in the country was non-existent after the release of the investigative piece. Their reason being that, they have been left in total darkness in the tunnel by government’s interference to the issues of football in the country which goes against the laws of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa).

After several days in total darkness in the tunnel they could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel after a Normalization Committee was set up by Fifa to reform the game in the country.

One could tell from the excitement in the air during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the noise in the parked stadium during the match between Asante Kotoko and AshantiGold in the JAK Cup and the jubilant fans in the streets of Kumasi as Kotoko dispatched Kenyan outfit Kariobangi Sharks in the qualifying round of the 2018/19 Caf Confederation Cup at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium – that local football has been sorely missed in the country.

The decision by the Normalization Committee to organize a special competition before a new and proper league season begins later in the summer was massively received by the footballing community in the country. Heavy speakers and radios were being dusted off in readiness for commentary from their favourite stations and the dead streets came back to life with arguments from the various local fans – but the excitement was soon replaced with frustration as Premier League Clubs decided not to commit in participating the special competition.

“As respectfully expressed to the Normalization Committee during yesterday’s meeting, we have grave concerns about the format presented and, as such, cannot commit to participating as currently constructed”, they said.

With the light at the end of the tunnel now blurry from the decision by Premier League Clubs, the football fraternity hopes it’s just a hurdle they can jump over with ease and not like climbing a mountain with wet hands.

For now, the launch of the Special Competition hangs in the balance.