GHALCA wants Ghana/Nigeria friendly postponed

Joseph Yaw Appiah, Chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), has said the association is negotiating with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to postpone the Black Stars' friendly match against the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Warri, on 23 February.

He told the GNA Sports that the negotiation is to pave way for the successful commencement of the L-G Top Four Tournament, which starts on 23 February to 23 March. Appiah said the association has notified Kofi Nsiah and Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah General Secretary and Vice Chairman respectively of the GFA on the clash of date adding, "we cannot afford to postpone the tournament again".

"The new-look Black Stars is predominantly made of local players and travelling to Nigeria on 23 February means the tournament would start without some of the country's exciting players", the Chairman said. He said GHALCA has an obligation with its sponsors, which include Somotex Ghana Limited and Coco Cola, to give them a good tournament and could not afford to commence without the key players.

Appiah said the sponsors have invested so much in the forth-coming tournament and the association has to protect the companies' interest. "The sponsors must be given their monies worth and playing without these exciting guys will be a great disservice to them", Appiah said.

The GHALCA chairman said if they (GHALCA and GFA) are unable to resolve the issue amicably, then, his outfit would be compelled to write to the participating clubs to withdraw their players from the national team in favour of the tournament.

League Champions Accra Hearts of Oak, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Dansoman-based

Liberty Professional and Great Olympics are billed for the Month-long tournament, the second to be staged by GHALCA.

According to the fixtures, defending Champions Hearts of Oak face Liberty at the Accra Sports Stadium while Kumasi Asante Kotoko welcome Olympics at the Kumasi Stadium in the opening matches.