Lessons learnt from this year’s cancellation of GHALCA Top 4 – Kudjoe Fianoo

The Chairman of the Ghana League Club Association, Kudjoe Fianoo, says the cancellation of this year’s tournament has taught the welfare governing body great lessons so there are no repeats in the future.

The highly anticipated tournament, which was originally scheduled to kick off on August 6, was set to have premier league Champions Medeama SC, Aduana Stars, Bechem United, and possibly Bibiani Gold Stars taking part. Gold Stars expressed their interest in replacing Asante Kotoko, who had withdrawn from the competition.

In an interview with Citi Sports, Kudjoe Fianoo stated that without sufficient financial backing from corporate firms, and limited time constraints, they were forced to decide to cancel the tournament.

“It has given us a school for thought, the fallout is so promising for the organization in the sense that from my interactions with all the corporate bodies, nobody is ready to do this one-stop kind of sponsorship.”

“They think that sponsorship must run for over a period of time and that will make them comfortable.”

“In the course of the year, you’d have to come with your proposal, so we have learnt very good lessons.”

“One is that, all the companies that we spoke to and are ready to do business with us are saying that we have very attractive products. ie. The GHALCA top 4, the President’s Cup and the First Lady’s Cup, so let us have a composite proposal covering all these events and it should run for a minimum of three years.”

“So we have already sent those proposals we are thinking they could pick up the GHALCA top 4 tournament at least, but it didn’t happen.”

Last year’s tournament was won by Great Olympics for the first time after triumphing in the final of the competition held at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) organized the competition, which saw the top six teams from the previous season’s Ghana Premier League compete for the ultimate prize.

Berekum Chelsea, who finished seventh, was included because champions Asante Kotoko declined to participate due to their pre-season tour outside of the country.