FootyDream

Dear Club Owners and CEOs,

UPDATE ON STIMULUS PACKAGE, POSSIBLE RETURN OF FOOTBALL AND FIFA EMERGENCY COVID-19 FUND AND OTHERS

It would be recalled that, in March this year, I authored a message of Solidarity to us, Club Owners and also Chief Executive Officers following the decision of Government to suspend all sporting activities and public gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Association followed up with a Zoom Meeting to discuss key issues with stakeholders including the Regional Football Association (RFAs), Premier League clubs, Division One League clubs and Women’s Premier League clubs.

As President of the Association and a club man, I know the extent of the challenges that clubs are going through and the financial burden we continue to face as club owners, officials, players and as participants in the game. Hence, the various engagements being pursued by the Association to bring some relief to our members.

The Association through the official website and in various interviews has been providing updates on the various activities, initiatives and engagements being undertaken by the administration.

However, it is both a duty and a privilege to address and update members directly on the status of the various initiatives and engagements on key issues with stakeholders such as the Government, FIFA, Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and the COVID-19 Advisory Team.

1. Update on GFA Proposal to MOYS for Stimulus Support

As I indicated during our Zoom Meeting in May, the leadership of the Association has continuously held positive engagements with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and other high ranking Government officials on matters related to a Stimulus Package for our clubs to alleviate some of the hardships on owners and our players.

Our proposal for support was sent to the Ministry for Youth and Sports on April 7, 2020 and we have since had various engagements and meetings on the subject.

In this proposal, we sought support for members (clubs, RFAs and GHALCA) for the payment of salaries of players and employees during the COVID-19 outbreak period. We advanced arguments on the economic losses suffered by clubs, rent payments among others, and asked for temporal suspension of payments of PAYE, CIT, SSNIT, any tax obligations and for interest-free loans to clubs.

As confirmed by the Sector Minister, Isaac Asiamah (Hon.) on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 when he took his turn at the COVID-19 Update ‘Meet The Press’ series in Accra, discussions are still ongoing on this proposal from the Association as part of the “Ministry specific” support from government.

It is therefore very clear that a lot of thinking, discussion, planning and engagements have gone on between the GFA and the Youth and Sports Ministry. We will continue with the engagements with the hope that government will come to the aid of the football industry.

1. FIFA Emergency COVID-19 Fund

In relation to the FIFA Emergency COVID-19 Fund, I want to update all members that the Association has provided all the information (financial and non-financial) which were required of the GFA to the FIFA Team.

This fund when ready will help alleviate the losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the measure, the FIFA Committee on COVID-19 will be meeting this month to decide on the package for Member Associations.

I want to assure stakeholders that we are in constant dialogue with FIFA to make sure that we have a share of this FIFA Emergency COVID-19 Fund.

As President of the Association, I have engaged in meetings with other Federation Heads across the World to discuss this issue and to look at best ways to navigate this unfortunate curve. The fallouts of these meetings have been positive with FIFA giving us assurances that the next stage of this financial relief plan will be finalized soon.

The Association is therefore waiting for the FIFA Committee in charge of managing this fund to have their meeting and decide the quantum of money due to the GFA and when it would be released to Member Associations.

3. Update on Engagement with Youth Employment Agency

In February 2020, the Association commenced an engagement with the leadership at the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) aimed at supporting clubs on various levels.

These engagements have been further enhanced by the Sports Ministry’s active support. The result is that, Government in the coming days will announce a support to the Association through YEA for our members.

4. Possible Return of Football

Within the last few weeks, the GFA Medical Committee, the General Secretary and the Competitions Department among others have put together sound proposals which has been presented to Government through the Covid-19 Advisory Team and the sector Ministry for consideration.

I have personally met with the Government Advisory Team on COVID-19 led by the Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare to discuss the possible return of Football and what we would require to actualize it, resulting in a discussion on a roadmap for the safe return of football. The Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and the Government of Ghana have been very open and supportive in these deliberations.

We will continue to engage the COVID-19 Advisory Team so that together we would bring football back in the safest possible way.

5. Decision on the Season

As you are aware in our previous engagements, the Executive Council gave on or before June 30, 2020 as the deadline to take a decision on the league after considering all factors.

We continue to engage all key stakeholders including WAFU, CAF and FIFA at both the Committees, General Secretaries and the President’s levels to ensure that our Association is at the forefront of all the discussions on the season and possible resumptions dates for football (no firm dates given yet by any of the bodies).

We are firm in our conviction that by June 30, 2020 we would have gathered enough information to aid us in our decision making.

6. Congress

We took a decision to organise an Extraordinary Congress to deliberate on a number of football issues, but COVID-19 happened, and public gathering was banned.

Currently, the approved protocols allow a gathering of 100 people. However, the membership of the GFA Congress, the Secretariat staff and the media who attend congress will be far beyond the limit. As a result, we are unable to organize Congress as we are used to.

It is, however, refreshing to note that recently, the Registrar General’s Department has indicated a possibility of holding Annual General Meetings of Companies online after meeting certain criteria, and obtaining approval from the Registrar General’s Department.

We are currently exploring the idea of holding a Congress online after receiving the necessary approval from the Registrar of companies. When this becomes possible, the Secretariat would communicate to all members appropriately.

7. Corporate Confidence

Recently, I have embarked on “corporate visits” to restore corporate confidence in the football industry. My engagement with Corporate Ghana so far has been extremely positive and very encouraging.

I will continue to take our message to more companies. Our message that today presents us a new era, a new hope, and a new opportunity to change the course of history at the GFA and walk a new path. Ghana football is, indeed, on a new path to bring back the love that Ghanaians cherish so much.

8. Conclusion

Finally, I want to thank all Club Owners, Administrators, Footballers, Coaches Referees, the media, the fans and all stakeholders involved in our sport for your patience in this difficult time.

Together we will win this battle. Long live Ghana Football

#BringBackTheLove        #IgnitingPassionCreatingWealthForAll

Kurt E.S Okraku

(President, GFA)

SOURCE: Ghanafa.org

Medeama have temporarily put on hold all contract talks as the club await the decision of the Ghana Football Association concerning the future of the 2019/2020 football season in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the club, all deals including new signings, out-of-contracts and loaned players have been put on hold.

This means that Asante Kotoko’s quest of making Justice Blay’s stay permanent is in limbo.

“The club has taken a decision to put all contracts talks on hold. We want to be sure about the certainty of the league before we resume any form of talks,” Communication Director Patrick Akoto told medeamasc.com

“The decision includes new signings, renewals and loaned players.

“We are in constant touch with the Ghana FA and as and when a decision is made by the federation, we will know the way forward.”

Football has remained suspended since mid-March after the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease worldwide.

Image via AsanteKotoko_SC

Former Hearts Of Oak captain, Eric Nyarko has expressed disappointment at the management of the club during his stay with the club because he was not given a medal when the team won the 2004 Caf Confederation Cup.

According to him, despite featuring for the club from the qualifiers to the finale, he and teammate Daniel Coleman were not given medals.

He feels hurt not getting such a precious medal.

“Up till now I haven’t been able to understand how some mgt and all technical team members got medals but two key players of the campaign we didn’t get. I look through the medals I had and I get sad when I don’t see that one” Eric Nyarko told Kumasi-based Angel FM.

“I love Hearts of Oak, they made me who am I today but my biggest regret is how it ended. After playing all the 2004 Confederations qualifiers to the finals, the Hearts management didn’t give us some of the medal. Myself & Coleman. It hurts a lot.”

Nyarko joined Hearts of Oak in 2003 from the youth side of the club Auroras and left for Israel in 2009 after helping the team to win their 20th league title in his final year.

He has had stints with Hapoel Ashkelon and Hapoel Ra’anana during his three-year stay in Israel.

Former Asante Kotoko defender, Julius Agyabeng has been reported paralyzed for the past seven years, according to reports monitoring on Accra-based Angel 102.9FM.

It would be recalled that Agyabeng joined the Porcupine Warriors from Tema Youth.

According to a family friend, Akwesi Appiah, the lanky central defender has been paralyzed for seven years.

“Agyabeng is very ill seriously. He has been paralyzed for the past seven years. It’s spiritual.”

Background

Agyabeng signed for Asante Kotoko prior to the 2007/2008 Ghana Premier League season after an impressive run with Tema Youth. The talented defender who had so many prospects played all 30 games in the 2006/07 Ghana Premier League season with Tema Youth without receiving a card – either yellow or red.

His impressive display caught the eyes of the Reds and they snatched him into their camp under the tutelage of Bashir Hayford.

According to Akwesi Appiah – the family friend of Agyabeng indicated in the interview that Agyabeng washed his boots he used for morning training at the players residence at Ejisu, near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

But after a short sleep, he could not find the boots. He thought one of his teammates had mistakenly picked it. However, four days after returning from training, he saw the boots where he placed it.

He subsequently used the boots for training sessions. But a few days later, Agyabeng started experimenting with swollen legs although he did not feel any pain in the leg.

He could no more play football since 2013 when the club released him. The friend explained all efforts to ensure that Agyabeng’s leg is headed have proved futile.

Akwesi Appiah revealed that currently Julius Agyabeng is at a spiritual home at Adeiso around Asamankese in the West Akim Municipal District.

He could not confirm whether Asante Kotoko is aware or not but he stated that Agyarbeng informed the father to notify the hierarchy of Asante Kotoko.

Former Asante Kotoko player and coach, Stephen Frimpong Manso has advised the Ghana Football Association to as a matter of urgency, cancel the 2019/20 football season and start a new one when the situations normalize.

The Nkoranza Warriors head coach explained that considering the prevailing circumstances due to the outbreak of the novel COVID-19 pandemic it is not safe to play football.

“The players are unable to follow training schedules because they don’t know when football is returning. I’ll advice the Ghana Football Association to cancel the football season, ” he told Ashh FM.

“It is not safe to play football now looking at the circumstances we find ourselves now. I support the league cancellation. There is no need to continue.”

Many have called for the cancellation of the league while others are of the opinion that it should be continued.

However, the football governing body is yet to decide on the future of the 2019-20 football season.

Football activities in Ghana were suspended in March due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease.

Asante Kotoko supporter, Augustine Oppong who lost his right eye after a police officer fired at him during a Ghana Premier League match at the Baba Yara Stadium Stadium has had his damaged eye replaced Thursday .

According to a report from the club, an artificial eye has been put there through a surgery at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.

footy.ghpush.com/ can confirm that all expenses on the surgery were paid by the supporters wing of the club – the National Circles Council.

Oppong was shot in the eye closely by the police officer during agitations of supporters in a Premier League game against Berekum Chelsea in January 2020.

The Porcupine Warriors lost the game 1-0 through Kofi Owusu’s 7th minute strike.

Image via Nhyira FM