Asante Kotoko captain, Felix Annan has refuted reports claiming that he and his teammates have reached consensus with management of the team to accept pay cut.
Reports were rife in the local media that the the Technical team and Kotoko players have agreed to reduce their salaries to aid the club amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Football activities have been frozen since the widespread of the novel COVID-19 disease globally. This has cut off revenue of clubs as well as all stakeholders.
The situation has gone on to render clubs cash-strapped. Many football pundits and administrators have therefore called for pay cut in players’ salaries.
But Annan has indicated that no discussion has been held between the players and the hierarchy of the club.
“In life ive always believed in proper communication, and in everything you do communication is very key,” Felix Annan told Atinka FM
“So if management engage the playing body in a meeting and we come into concensus, why not.
“This is not something that should be force on us.
“The clubs in europe engaged their players in a meeting and agreed on that pay cut decision.
“We all understand the situation but we should all come into terms of what is best for all of us.”
Photo credit via Ghanasoccernet
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The Ghana Football Association (GFA), has not paid clubs from the StarTimes broadcast rights deal agreed in January 2020, Joy Sports can confirm.
The GFA inability to pay the clubs their monies in the agreed partnership is due to the fact that StarTimes have not made payment to the Association for the broadcast rights of the Ghana Premier League and MTN FA Cup, Joy Sports gathered.
Some clubs are unsure if they can pay salaries of their staff for the month of April and beyond if the current ban on public gatherings due to Covid-19 continues.
They believe payment from the Chinese TV rights deal could help them cater for some bills in these difficult times caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The GFA suspended 2019/2020 season following an address to the nation by the President Akufo-Addo on March 15, suspending public gatherings.
With gate proceeds and player sales being a major revenue generation for Clubs, the lack of sporting activities have affected their source of revenue.
The Ghana FA is seeking for financial support from government from its stimulus package announced late March to help its members.
Kurt Okraku
GFA President Kurt Okraku, on April 1, 2020, in a letter to club owners and CEOs empathising with them the economic hardship coronavirus has brought on football.
He revealed that he is “engaging with all the major stakeholders to ensure that the football family is included in the government’s stimulus package to alleviate some of the hardship on our industry.
“I will continue to positively engage the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and Government for the advancement of our beloved sport.”
Executive Council Member, Randy Abbey in an interview with Asempa FM said nobody should ‘isolate football’ from from a ‘stimulus package’ promised by the government to help businesses.
Randy Abbey
“Anything that government do or prospective government do, sports and for that matter football is included because it is an integral part of the Ghanaian economy.
“So, when we are having a discussion about providing stimulus for the Ghanaian economy, football or sports cannot be disregarded.
“Football, does it not provide employment, does it not pay taxes, is it not part of the Ghanaian economy, does it not affect other sectors of the Ghanaian economy?” the Heart of Lions CEO quizzed to buttress the calls for government’s support.
These calls, others argue that is too early because the football governing body of the West African country agreed to pay members $30,000 for the season and took bank details of clubs to make the payment, but have failed to fulfil the agreement, Joy Sports gathered.
Checks within the GFA revealed that, Clubs have not been paid the agreed amount because there were some disagreements over the payment terms proposed by StarTimes.
The Ghana FA counter proposal delayed the signing of the five years Television rights agreement worth $5.25 million.
The contract, Joy Sports sources say, was signed either in late February or first week of March, despite the FA announcing the agreement of the deal on January 8, 2020.
It was expected that the payment would be paid to the FA by mid March, but due to Coronavirus pandemic, StarTimes offices in China were unable to wire the money into the accounts of the GFA, sources said.
It is unclear when the offices of the FA product rights holders will be opened in China for the payment to be made.
Sources at the FA say, they are hopeful of getting the alert by the end of April.
StarTimes started broadcasting matches on Week 3 of the 2019/2020 league season.
They televised a little over 30 matches out of the 133 matches played so far before the games were halted.
Some club cannot fathom why matches the broadcaster was allowed to televise matches without payment.
Outspoken football administrator, Kofi Manu has said that he will not turn down an opportunity to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Asante Kotoko if Life Patron and owner of the club Otumfuo Osei Tutu II calls on him.
The Dr. Kwame Kyei-led administration has come under immense pressure due to the numerous judgement debts that have hit the club.
Kotoko were ordered by the Ghana Football Association to pay an amount of $ 34,000 for wrongfully dismissing coach C.K Akonnor. The Ghanaian giants again paid his successor Kjetil Zacherriasen $ 12,425 as severance package for terminating his contract.
Fifa on Friday, April 10, ordered Asante Kotoko to pay Esperance of Tunisia, $240,000 following the transfer of striker Emmanuel Clottey to them.
According to a verdict released by Fifa on Friday, April 10, Kotoko had been ordered to pay the Tunisian club $180,000 for the transfer of the player, an additional $45,000 as interest on the figure.
In addition, Kotoko would pay the committee that sat on the case between the two sides over the transfer of the player $15,000, bringing the total figure to $240,000.
Reports suggest that The Asantehene, who is the sole Shareholder of the Porcupines will sack Dr. Kwame Kyei and hand over the club to a new administration.
Speaking to Sikka FM in Kumasi, Kofi Manu indicated that he would be glad to led the club if called upon.
“I’m a traditionalist and there’s no way I will turn down a request from a chief and for that matter a big king like Otumfuo.
“I will go on my kneel when Asantehene calls me on the phone to come and serve Kotoko.”
He, however, appealed to the Asantehene to be patient with the current Asante Kotoko administration.
Photo via Ghanaweb
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Premier League football has been suspended since 13 March
Finishing the season in a 40-day window was one of the scenarios discussed at a Premier League meeting on Friday.
Top-flight clubs remain committed to playing all 92 remaining fixtures this season but did not discuss a deadline by which action must resume.
Clubs were expected to debate a 30 June deadline to end the season but instead discussed “possible scheduling models”.
The Premier League said it “remains our objective” to complete matches but currently “all dates are tentative”.
The league has been suspended since 13 March because of coronavirus.
It is understood some clubs expected to discuss the proposed 30 June deadline at Friday’s meeting but it was decided this was not the right time to do so.
In a statement, the Premier League said “in common with other businesses and industries” clubs were “working through complex planning scenarios”.
“Today’s shareholders’ meeting provided an opportunity to discuss possible scheduling models,” it added.
“It remains our objective to complete the 2019-20 season but at this stage all dates are tentative while the impact of Covid-19 develops.”
Sixteen of the 20 Premier League teams have nine games to play, with four having 10 left.
Earlier this month the Premier League said play will only resume when “it is safe and appropriate to do so”. The number of coronavirus-related deaths in the UK has since risen to more than 12,000.
On Thursday, the government issued a further three-week lockdown to ensure social distancing and manage the spread of the virus.
BBC sports editor Dan Roan has learned Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden spoke to Premier League bosses this week and signalled the government was content for them to start contingency planning.
But nothing will be taken forward without the green light from the government, in accordance with medical advice.
In a section on player welfare at the meeting, it was decided tests for coronavirus would have to be widely available to the public before the widespread testing of players.
When and how football resumes has been widely debated across the sport as clubs face up to financial difficulties and the logistical issues caused by a late finish to the season.
The contracts of numerous players expire on 30 June, including those of Chelsea midfielder Willian and Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen.
If the season is extended beyond that date there is a possibility clubs will lose players before fixtures are concluded.
World governing body Fifa is aware of the problem and is looking at alternatives such as rolling contract extensions.
The 30 June date is also an issue for clubs around agreed changes in kit manufacturers. Liverpool are due to change shirt manufacturers from New Balance to Nike, while Watford and Newcastle are also set to use new suppliers.
Uefa has pleaded for leagues to give them time to return with their own proposals for ending the season across Europe.
European football’s governing body will meet next week to further discuss plans which include potentially using the Champions League final to end the 2019-20 season on 29 August.
Lower down the football pyramid in England, the EFL has sent a letter to clubs recommending they return to training on 16 May at the earliest.
The EFL has not discussed a league restart date with the government but told clubs: “Our planning needs to be agile enough to allow us to be as prepared as possible for a start at relatively short notice.”
‘Eight weeks enough to complete season’
BBC Sport’s Simon Stone
In the end, the 30 June deadline demand some were so keen to push earlier in the week was never raised.
The feeling that today’s meeting was not the right time to widen the debate and the Premier League desire for a united front was strong enough to dissuade a discussion that would have extended the chat, which was wrapped up in under two hours.
Individual clubs will go away to continue discussions with players about wage cuts and deferrals and wait to see what comes out of two Uefa meetings next week.
Before their next scheduled meeting on 1 May, lessons should also be absorbed from Germany.
Some Bundesliga players have already returned to their clubs for training under social distancing rules – getting changed at home and returning to shower after picking up some food.
A Bundesliga meeting on Thursday will offer guidance on if and when this can be stepped up following the revised regulations announced by German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday.
It will start to offer the Premier League some kind of clarity over the major discussions today, which centred around different start and end dates to play the remainder of the 2019-20 campaign.
At the moment, it is felt eight weeks will be enough from returning to training in order to regain match fitness and play nine rounds of games to complete the season.
Germany’s experience will help frame whether that prospect is a realistic one.
In the meantime, as has been the case since matches were first called off five weeks ago, the only certainty is uncertainty.
At present, the state of play in the continent’s top leagues is:
Germany’s Bundesliga: Clubs have returned to training but the season is still suspended until 30 April.
Spain’s La Liga: There will be no training until emergency measures in place are lifted and La Liga president Javier Tebas says resuming play on 28 May is a best-case scenario.
France’s Ligue 1: French football authorities are considering restarting Ligue 1 on 3 or 17 June, with the latter date the more likely, according to sports daily L’Equipe.
Italy’s Serie A: The Italian Football Federation (IFF) hopes to begin testing players for the virus at the start of May, in preparation for the season to resume.
Ex-Ghana national U-17 scout, David Kwame Amoah has called on Ghanaians particularly the football loving fans to come to his aid as he battles with Kidney failure at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.
Amoah, who was appointed to head Aduana Stars in February could not begin his mandate after he was admitted at the Hospital.
He is waiting on an organ donor, with the hope of a new chance at life after being put on a dialysis.
It is believed Amoah has sent an SOS call to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to come to his aid but says he is yet to hear from them.
“I have kidney complications and will need a transplant. I don’t have the money to undertake such an exercise,” an emotional Amoah told Asempa FM.
“The Ghana Football Association is aware but am yet to hear anything from them.
“I will appeal to the GFA to come to my aid and other well-meaning Ghanaians to offer financial support so I get well.
“It’s been very difficult for myself and my family as we are financially stretched. I need help.
“Doctors say the only way out is a transplant and that requires huge sums of money.”
King Faisal FC owner, Alhaji Karim Grusah has denied preventing Shilla Illiasu from joining English Premier League giants Arsenal fourteen years ago.
Illiasu claimed that the Bank roller of the Kumasi-based club blocked his move to the Gunners after an impressive performance at the 2006 World Cup held in Germany.
According to the center-back, outspoken Grusah wrote to the club claiming that he owned him although he was in the books of Asante Kotoko.
But Grusah has indicated that he had no knowledge about the supposed link to Arsenal.
”How can I deny my player from signing for a big club like Arsenal?” he queried on Nhyira FM.
”I was entitled to receiving onward transfer fee so it would’ve been irresponsible on my part to block the move.
”He should concentrate on getting a good job and stop putting the blame on me. ”I personally wasn’t aware about his supposed link to Arsenal. I would have been a very proud man to see one of my players playing for Arsenal.”
Shilla Illiasu later signed for FC Saturn in Turkey.
Ghanaian international Kwadwo Asamoah has contributed to the fight against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana by donating an amount of $20,000.00 to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
The amount was presented to the management of the hospital on his behalf by his father on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old has been in lockdown in his Milan based in Italy where it has been an epicenter of the disease.
The Inter Milan defender has added his name to Ghanaian players who are putting much efforts in their own way to his combat the novel virus after Danny Welbeck donated to his mother’s hometown on Monday.
Other players including Dede Ayew, Mubarak Wakaso, Majeed Waris just to mention few have contributed in various ways to ameliorate the spread of the disease within their communities.
Former Head Coach of the Black Stars, James Akwasi Appiah says he has absolutely no regrets about handling the senior national football team and is highly convinced that he has left a legacy.
Akwasi Appiah had two stints with the Black Stars with his second spell coming to an end in January 2020.
The former national captain was often berated by the public for not being up to task and many called for his head several times before his tenure expired.
Appiah is the first indigenous coach to qualify Ghana to the world cup (2014) although the campaign failed woefully.
Despite not being very successful on the pitch, Appiah is credited with introducing several youngsters into the national team with names like Christian Atsu, Kudus Mohammed, being fine examples.
Speaking in an interview with local radio station Light FM, the 59 year old touted his national team exploits expressing the assertion that he holds no regrets.
He said “I don’t see any regret with my tenure at the senior national team of Ghana. I did the best that I can which yielded results”
“The most important thing is that you leave a legacy behind which will serve as a precedent for the upcoming ones” he noted.
Ghanaian-born English football star, Daniel Bio Tackie Mensah Welbeck, popularly known as Danny Welbeck has donateditems worth over GHS 70,000 to the people and hospitals in the hometown of his mother.
Thousands of residents of Nkawiepanin in the Atwima Nwabiagya Municipality of the Ashanti regional, the maternal hometown of the Watford FC.
The Nkawie/Toase Government Hospital received some PPE and hand sanitizers from the former Manchester United and Arsenal FC striker while the people in the vicinity received foodstuffs.
Presenting the items on behalf of footballer, his aunt, Charlotte Adwoa Tumutuom said, “Danny has been very concerned about how his people would survive these trying times; though he has never lived here, he has a great affection for the people of Ghana, so he felt it prudent to offer some help in the very small way that he can to support the government’s efforts in these times”.
Welbeck advised them “to joins hands to fight and defeat COVID-19 together, by behaving in ways that would help stop the spread”.
The Atwima Nwabiagya Municipality is one of fourteen adjunct districts of the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area which is currently under a partial lockdown as a mitigating measure to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the Ashanti region.
FIFA have given their final verdict on the ongoing Asante Kotoko legal tussle with Esperance over the transfer of Emmanuel Clottey.
Asante Kotoko have been ordered to make full payment of $180,000 fee to the Tunisian giants regarding Emmanuel Clottey’s transfer.
The Porcupine Warriors have been told to fork out $45,000 as interest to the Blood and Gold outfit, and also an additional $15,000 to the committee that sat on the case.
The Kumasi-based giants have been instructed to pay in full the amount within a month.
It would be recalled that Asante Kotoko in 2015 announced the signing of Emmanuel Clottey, yet the player still had a contractual obligation with the Tunisian giants.
According to a grapevine source, Manhyia Palace has ordered Asante Kotoko management board to pay the aforementioned money from the club coffers.
Clottey, a former Great Olympics and Berekum Chelsea striker, signed for Asante Kotoko in 2015 but would soon have his status challenged at the world football governing body, FIFA, by Esperance, who claimed to have a running contract with the player at the time he signed for the Porcupines
FIFA slapped a $180,000 fine on Emmanuel Clottey for a breach of contract, but it has since remained a legal tussle between Esperance and Asante Kotoko, because Emmanuel Clottey prayed to an Accra High Court in 2019 to compel the Porcupine Warriors to settle the fine imposed on him by FIFA.
Meanwhile, Esperance have refused to pay the transfer fee for Kwame Bonsu which the club and the player should be getting around $250,000.
Source: Footballmadeinghana.com; Photo via Ghanasoccernet
