Sports Minister lauds Accra Great Olympic FC. for going professional

Youth & Sports Minister Hon. Mahama Ayariga has observed that the future of Ghana Football is very bright as clubs strive to be run professionally and the nation puts in the bid to host the 2017 African Cup of Nations after fulfilling the promise of presenting the retired national team stars their money.

Speaking at the new club headquarters of Accra Great Olympics, he noted that football is the passion of the nation and a tool for development and job creation which Ghanaians must embrace and work hard towards generating positive results from.

Hon. Ayariga hinted that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has proposed the establishment of an Endowment Fund for all retired footballers, and they would try to work on it and implement it.

Global Village Media Group, operators of Metro TV and OMP, an exclusive marketing company have acquired 40% shares in wonder club, Accra Great Olympic as they prepare for the 2014/15 football season.

Mr. Fadi Fattal, a director of Global Village who announced the at Ridge in Accra said the Fattal brothers who have followed the progress of Olympics with keen interest and enthusiasm have decided to buy shares and make a cash contribution of Four Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis in addition to facilities like a training ground, administrative offices, two branded new Hyundai i10 salon cars for the coach and administrative staff and a 32 seater branded bus for the team.

According to Fadi Fattal, Optimum Media Prime (OMP) will act as the exclusive marketing agency for the club and syndicate sponsorship packages for the club, team, fans to include TV Promotion of matches, sms competitions and produce a weekly show on Metro TV dubbed “Oly TV”.

He said strict and transparent guidelines have been put in place to ensure the smooth and successful running of the “new” Accra Great Olympics.

“Among such administrative arrangements is a nine member board of directors comprising five appointee from Accra Great Olympics and four from Global Village Media Group” he expressed.

“We are confident that this new partnership will not only bring about the revival of Oly, but also extend to the bigger football community and bring about a paradigm shift in football administration in Ghana” he stressed.

Kwesi Nyantekyi, the GFA President congratulated the wonder club for their vision and plans to be established as a real professional side and prayed that other premier clubs would emulate.

He urged clubs to abide by the new FIFA idea of club licensing and make sure they implement the five key points of organized administration and management, sporting criteria which includes coaching, sports infrastructure, sound financial background and respectable legal backing.

Kwesi Nyatekyi said as a traditional club, the officials must work hard to entice their supporters and fans to watch matches at the stadium.

Fred Pappoe, a director of the club thanked all those who have contributed to the success of the club with Mr. Eddie Nikoi, on behalf of the patrons praying for unity, integrity, transparency, professionalism and hard work.