Ashanti Regional Women's FA suspends league

Kumasi, May 1, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Women's Football Association (FA) has suspended indefinitely the 2005 league due to the Association's inability to raise enough funds towards the sponsorship of the league.

This development comes barely a year after the Association nearly boycotted the 2004 Regional Women's league in a similar circumstance but for the timely intervention of Nana Yaw Owusu, Mpaboahene of the Asantehene.

Last year, Nana Owusu who is also the spokesman of the Association in collaboration with some philanthropists responded swiftly to an SOS call from the association to salvage an imminent boycott of the league, which was eventually won by Ash-Town Ladies.

Madam Cecilia Anane, Chairperson of the Women's FA told the GNA Sports in Kumasi at the weekend that, 'We are trying to put the pieces together in finding an antidote to reverse and prevent what is becoming an annual trend", She said following a meeting by the Executive members of the Association recently, a consensus was reached that the League should be put on hold until they had succeeded in sourcing for a substantive sponsorship package for the participating teams. Fabulous Ladies, Osei Tutu Ladies, Oforikrom Ladies, Kumasi Ghana Telecom (Ghatel) Ladies, Sunyani Ghatel, Madonna Ladies and Envoys Ladies were expected to have joined Ash-Town Ladies as participants of the league, which was scheduled to have commenced last Saturday. Madam Anane bemoaned what she described as the reluctance of stakeholders in football in the country to invest especially in women's football.

She reminded District and Metropolitan Assemblies to resolve to respond appropriately to suggestions recently made by Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, the Ashanti Regional Minister and acting Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive for the Assemblies to be committed to raising funds to sponsor women's football in the Region.

Mr Boafo said that was the only way to make the players active, adding that the Region abounds in potential talents, and cited the exploits of Yaa Avoe, Gloria Aikins, Akua Anokyewaa, Ruth Asante and Madina Asante who are all serving in various capacities for the Women's national football teams. 01 May 05