GFA Congress: Beach Soccer holds emergency meeting

On the eve of the 2019 Ghana Football Association (GFA) Extraordinary Session of Congress, representatives of the 16 registered beach soccer clubs in Ghana have held an emergency meeting in the Ghanaian capital.

Following several hours of deliberations, the stakeholders concluded on a number of proposals aimed at aligning with the incoming adoptive GFA Congress slated for Thursday 5th September followed by the GFA elections at a yet to be announced date.

The President of Beach Soccer Ghana Yaw Ampofo Ankrah was endorsed with a seal of approval to continue in office with no objections from members.

The meeting which was held at the Accra Sports Stadium unanimously agreed by acclamation to extend the mandate of the current executive body of Ghana Beach Soccer until December 2019 when fresh elections would be held after a review of the GBSA constitution.

In the interim, and per the standing GBSA constitution, appointments will be made to fill vacant positions on the beach soccer management team.

Other key decisions taken include plans to align the association with the GFA, CAF and FIFA refereeing and coaching courses/regulations.

A format for national Beach Soccer championship and introduction of the sport in various coastal regions especially via schools and colleges and other educational institutions.

Present at the meeting were executives, national team coach and club representatives including 3 times winners Sunset Sports, former winners Havedzi Warriors both from the Volta Region as well as club representatives and stakeholders.

Beach Soccer is expected to transition with a relaunch following a few setbacks.

Most notably, the inability of the association to secure support from the GFA for international tournaments in 2018/19.

Although not entirely to blame, beach soccer fortunes further slumped on the back of the football crisis in Ghana.

The association however has concluded talks with CAL Bank for a new sponsorship agreement to be unveiled after the GFA Congress.