President of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), Kudjoe Fianoo has stated that his outfit is lobbying and advocating rigorously for an increased prize money for the winners of the various football competitions in Ghana.
This comes on the back of numerous calls for the Ghana football association to elevate the prize money to help clubs in their preparations for African inter-club competitions.
Medeama Sporting Club were crowned champions of the 2022/23 Bet Pawa Premier League with Dreams FC clinching the MTN FA cup.
According to the the Ghana Football Association’s regulations, the league winner takes home a trophy and cash prize of GHC 300,000 and 40 gold medals whiles the first and second runner up receives GHC 150,000, 40 silver medals and GHC 80000, 40 bronze medals respectively.
The winner of the MTN FA cup on the other hand bags GHC 80,000 as prize money with the runner up taking home GHC30,000.
In an interview with CIti Sports, Kudjoe Fianoo acknowledged the fact that the prize money is nothing to write home about and therefore called for an increase to aid local clubs compete at the highest level.
‘’Playing a 34 week league for 300,000 ,I will say there must be room for improvement ,we need to do something about it and I know that clubs are going to prepare for Africa and I know there is a scheme ,definitely GFA will give them a push so in as much as the prize money is that low I am sure GFA will cushion the clubs that will be playing in Africa but like Oliver Twist I will ask that something is done about it. These things can be done if they are factored in the sponsorship package because the sponsorship package itself is nothing to write home about so you cannot take the chunk of the sponsorship money as prize money. As we move along I think that we have to advocate and make sure that we get much more sponsors on board so that the prize money will be something to write home about,’’ Kudjoe Fianoo intimated.
The president of GHALCA further advocated for high sponsorship packages and financial support for clubs involved in the African inter-club competitions
‘’Now they will be venturing into Africa and they need the support of each and everyone,what we can do as an advocacy group is to lobby and ask for government support for them because venturing into Africa is like a bottomless pit ,money will go in and it will be very difficult even when you make it into the money zone you will still run red so if you do not venture into the money zone it becomes a financial sacrifice so we will do the best that we can but we will also take this opportunity to ask the clubs to revamp their squad to make a meaningful impact in the competitions that their going to participate because we have lost 2 slots as a country and we can get the 4 slots back based on the performances they would put up in the inter club competitions,’’ he added.
After Medeama SC and Dreams FC clinched the league title and domestic cup respectively, they are expected to represent Ghana in the African inter-clubs competitions with Medeama set to face Nigeria side Remo Stars in the CAF champions league whiles Dreams after take on Milo Fc de kankan of Guinea in the CAF confederations cup.
Story By: Asack Pius and Andrews Sefa Bamfo
