The 50 percent share of gate proceeds to be taken by the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) in this year’s President’s Cup is too much. The GH₵100,000 appearance fees for the two combatants is fair but why is the club’s welfare body taking as much as half of the gate proceeds? At a time when clubs have been living from hand to mouth, why wouldn’t their welfare body let them have more meat on their meal?
It’s not GHALCA that’s paying the appearance fees to Hearts and Kotoko for the March 4, 2022 game in honour of President Akufo Addo. Under the auspices of Jubilee House, the seat of government, and the Ghana Football Association (GFA), GHALCA to my understanding, is coming in as a conveyor belt, more like the organiser of the game.
Does that justify GHALCA’s 50 percent share of gate proceeds? Is GHALCA taking that amount (granted there’s huge attendance and I hope we get good turnout) to moisten its usually dry coffers so that it can better play its role for clubs? These questions have occupied my mind since the financials of 2022 President’s Cup was made public.
GTV Sports+’s Akosua Adjei, has for example asked why, GHALCA didn’t give us a Cape Coast derby, Ebusua Dwarfs vs Venomous Vipers, flying on the back of the fever arising out of the 65th independence anniversary to be marked in the central regional capital. GHALCA perhaps doesn’t see the commercial value of such a fixture compared to the Super Clash. The Cape Coast derby would’ve been lovely.
Hearts and Kotoko just played goalless in the league. Already, some supporters of both teams say they’re becoming fatigued of the ceremonial, non-competitive Super Clashes. Fears are that, rivalry between Kotoko and Hearts risked being ruined and excitement sucked out of their encounters. The two sides are billed to play in Kumasi early April but before that, in March, they lock horns in the President’s Cup.
We can’t fault fans who don’t like next week’s match. GHALCA has to come up with a determinant; an arrangement that gives us teams for the President’s Cup without having to leave it to impulse or a guessing game – waiting to see clubs that are in good form and can thus attract fans so they’re paired for the President’s Cup.
Or maybe, pitching the league and FA Cup winner, or indeed decentralising the fixture, thereby, pairing the two top teams in the region where the national Independence Day event is held. GHALCA must open up to these suggestions. It wouldn’t be bad.
Postscript: Will the GHALCA top four ever return? What about the top eight? How did we contribute to killing the top four for example? Someday, we will talk about that.
Credit: Jerome Otchere
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