The head of Marketing at StarTimes Ghana, Akofia Dzankui has moved to explain why the company has so far failed to construct any of the ten pitches stipulated in their contract with the erstwhile GFA administration.
The Chinese pay TV firm signed a groundbreaking deal with the Ghana Football Association in 2016 to acquire media rights for the Ghana Premier League, the Gala, the National Division One League, the MTN FA Cup, the Ghana Women’s League and the Ghana Juvenile League for the next 10 years. As part of the agreement, StarTimes were mandated to construct ten artificial pitches in the country in all ten regions in the country then.
However, three years after their arrival in the country, Ghanaians are yet to witness the construction of an artificial pitch by StarTimes and Akofa Dzankui has sought to clarify the cause in the delay.
“We were relying on the FA to furnish us with where we could set up the pitch. Just around the time they furnish us the place then the Number 12 exposé happened and everything went into disarray”.
She also disclosed that StarTimes were in negotiations with the former FA to review certain clauses in the contract but declined to comment on if the pitches were one of the issues being considered in the review.
“Down the line there were discussions with the FA to review some parts of the contract and that has not been done and as well know Normalization is still in process and we haven’t gotten to the point where we have been called to the table yet. So when we are called back to the table I’m sure we will address all of that”. There are many things we have to look out for, for our good and for the good of Ghana football.
She also confirmed reports that StarTimes could not agree a deal with the Normalization Committee for the telecast of the Special Competition hence the decision to hand it to GTV.
“We tried to the Special Competition but our negotiations stalled a bit. We could not get it”, she said .
