Commodore Mensah warns against playing GPL behind closed doors

Revered Football Administrator Commodore Mensah has shot down calls for the Ghana Premier League to resume behind closed doors, describing such a move as alien to the local terrain.

The Ghana Football Association has suspended local football activities since mid-March due to the CoronaVirus pandemic.

The situation is no different from leagues worldwide which had to be put on hold as the virus situation worsened.

However, league across the world are working out a return to playing with Germany already starting the Bundesliga 2 weeks ago.

With pressure mounting on the GFA to take a decision, there has been serious consideration given to playing behind closed doors to allow for the 2019-20 season to continue.

By contrast, Commodore Mensah in an interview with Asempa FM has opposed such an option.

According to the former Hearts of Oak Board Chairman, if playing behind closed doors is the only option to resume playing, then its best football remains suspended until situations drastically improve.

He said “Germany has resumed playing behind closed doors. I have heard people say Ghana should emulate this. In my opinion we should not go that way”.

“Even with spectators allowed to stadiums, the clubs’ financial state is nothing to write home about. If it’s about playing behind closed doors, then we should not play at all. Even if it takes a year or two for things to return to normal before we can play football then so be it,”

“Let no one rush the return of football if we’re playing behind closed doors. Let’s not copy the Europeans,” he posited.

The Ghana FA is set to take a decision on the fate of the suspended Football Season by June 30. Before that, there have been broad stakeholder engagements to find the best solution for Ghana Football.