We all know that the local league is continuing to develop in every aspect of the game and we all want to see the best players in the country play. The nationalistic fervour that greeted the country when the Government of the land eased restrictions for our football to come back powerfully evokes moments when our league was active.
Therefore, it is important we do our maximum best to ensure that together we take our football to a level that we all envisage, since that is the sure way to ensure that the game develops and becomes globally competitive.
As the FA president, KURT E.S OKRAKU rightly said at the just ended congress. “Football cut across all religions, All political parties.
The outgoing sports Journalist in Ghana believes that, there’s always one football family. We’ll disagree on issues. We’ll disagree on how you think I must wear my dress, but let’s think Ghana football first. Let’s learn to go through our laid and respected way of communication. It is the sport that feeds millions of people, it’s the sport that unites this country. It is our responsibility to hold on to this sport and ensure that we leave a lasting legacy to generations unborn.”
The coronavirus pandemic represents one of the most challenging periods in football history where clubs main sources of income have all significantly reduced.
Ghana football is no exception to this pandemic effects. If this crisis has taught us anything it is that we must share to survive and be supportive to one another.
This article aims to bring to light how the various stakeholders should unite and support our football.
Government
Our clubs, (the premier league, the women’s league and the Division one) in total employs over two thousand five hundred staff (playing and non-playing staff). These people are able to support themselves and their families as a result of football.
Asante kotoko contributed in excess of GH¢150,000 as Tax from two games during the 2018/2019 CAF Inter-Club competitions. GH¢95K as VAT in the Cotton Sport and GH¢ 50K in Kariobangi Sharks matches at the Baba Yara Sports stadium.
Hearts of Oak and Kotoko super clash in the Ghana premier league early this year generated GH¢127 K as tax at the Accra sports stadium.
If football is supported adequately and Ghana is able to regain the four slots in CAF African Inter-Club Competitions, the country will be getting huge sums of monies.
Football can also improve revenue derives from tourism. Rwanda partnered with Arsenal football club to promote tourism in the country after signing a 3-year contract worth $45m USD.
Through the deal, the number of tourist from England alone has climbed by 5% within a year after signing the deal with English premier league side, according to Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
The government has been supportive by providing financial assistance to clubs in CAF Inter-Club competitions but the gap is still wide and more needs to be done.
As a strategy to support local football, the government should adopt tax exemption as a tool to support companies or corporate bodies who support or sponsor football clubs.
Club Owners
Club Owners are the backbone of clubs in Ghana. Player salaries, non-playing staff salaries, Medication, transfers, Administrative expenses, Transportation, Accommodations and other operations of the club.
During a transfer window, football fans all over the country get overwhelmed with daily rumours of potential player movement. Inevitably, when discussing football finance we often talk about players and their salaries, given that it is the highest expense of a club’s budget.
The most reliable source of revenue for about 70% of these clubs in Ghana are their owners. Majority of club’s are reliant on owner contributions on regular basis. These owners are local businessmen who rely heavily on other businesses or investments to feed their respective clubs.
A top ten premier club spent GH¢132,500 in fewer matches during the 2019 Normalisation Committee special competition. The same Club is expected to spend at least twice in 34 matches of same amount in the 2020/2021 Ghana premier league season or even more during this coronavirus pandemic.
The clubs suffers from financial crises due to the increase of expenses over revenues which represents a major obstacle for the progress of clubs.
Club owners should therefore promote and protect their investments. Instead of negatively running down their businesses or football in the country through any media platforms they get, it is vital for these owners to support the Ghana football Association in creating a good path for their own investments.
Media
Media is an important means of sport development, which influence realizing most sport development objectives. The media has an undeniable role in ensuring that our football or sport develops. Football sells mass media and media sells football. Players depend on it for publicity, club owners depend on it to secure financial sponsorships.
But the media as well can negatively affect sport.
As the Hon. Minister for Youth and Sports, Isaac Asiamah said; “When you damage a brand it affects you. It is critical. We need to make it attractive. Let’s be guided by these principles. Sanctity, Integrity and image of the game.”
The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana premier league giant, Hearts of Oak shared his views on the team’s experience due to bad reportage.
“If I tell you the number of sponsorships we’ve lost because of negative press you probably think I’m lying.
“We got a sponsor close to a 4-star hotel who was prepared to give us free accommodation for two days for every home game and we lost it.”
“Once the information comes out as negative, whether it’s true or not 50% of the people will believe and the other 50% will not believe it.
“I am hoping there will be a day where the press in Ghana will positively support positive news 90% of the time.” He told Pure FM.
If this can affect a premier league giants from securing a sponsorship deal, you have no idea how this would impact negatively on the smaller clubs.
Indeed, some journalist depend solely on rumours, gossip and speculations to write sensational headlines to attract readership and traffic of which we must be mindful about.
“We must be mindful of what we say because it affects the mentality of these players who are born and raised in the diaspora.”
Former Ghana Football Association communications director Ibrahim Sannie Daara sharing his views on how bad media reportage on the use of black magic could impede the country’s chances of luring players of Ghanaian descent abroad to play for the national teams.
“And I side with George Amoako on our reportage to the outside community about the national team.”
“It is our duty to find a way of convincing them to do away with the negative stories they have heard about the national team.” he told Nhyira FM.
Supporters
Football fans are a fundamental part of the identity of clubs as they do not only invest countless hours to support their clubs, but also helps to improve clubs financially.
Supporters more than any other stakeholder make lifelong commitment to their clubs and invest in them on long term basis. They do not make from their clubs what they invest in them, they are not employed by their clubs, but support the employment of others unconditionally.
However, there’s a gap in the capacity of supporters in delivering these services to clubs in Ghana especially this coronavirus period.
The Government has eased covid-19 restrictions to allow contact sports to commence. This has allowed clubs to start preparations towards the new season.
Only 25% of supporters would be allowed to attend matches which is expected to hit these clubs even more financially as Gate proceeds remains a gateway for revenue generation for them.
Ghana’s biggest derby involving Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko came as a new record in gate proceeds with a staggering GHC 726,380 equivalent to $130,000 USD on January 27.
Prior to that feet, the record was GHC 639,000 which is $116,000 equivalent when Kotoko hosted Coton Sport Garoua in the 2019 CAF confederations cup at the Baba Yara Sports stadium.
Supporters have a key role to play. But with this restrictions how do they participate fully to help their clubs;
✓ Patronize club’s replica jerseys, souvenirs and other commercial items.
✓ Direct financial contributions to the club
The Ghana Football Association
We are not in normal times but this Administration has done an enormous job to ensure our football still develops under this unprecedented period of the coronavirus.
Rolling out the rich manifesto by ensuring that women football gets the attention it deserves, raising the bar in refereeing Administration in the country, providing football equipment for the league, ensuring the FA’s Administration is functioning effectively, transparency in the FA’s activities, coordinating well with state agencies and private organizations in promoting our football.
We still have challenges with the effects of the famous Anas Expose and the covid-19 pandemic which has adversely affected world football as a whole.
What has been done s far is a prerequisite for greater things in the next few years of our football calendar. Our football is in good hands to reach the level we all cherish.
Therefore, the FA needs support of all football stakeholders and every individual to ensure that we reach this level as we start a new season.
