Top 4 Clubs tournament launched

Accra, May 21, GNA - The Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) on Monday, launched the Sixth Edition of its annual Top Four competition, which is played among the first four clubs of the Premier League at the end of every soccer season.

The tournament which will commence on Sunday, May 27 and end on June 24 has Accra Hearts of Oak, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Kpando Heart of Lions and Berekum Arsenals competing for honours at the Sunyani Coronation Park and the Cape Coast Robert Mensah Sports Stadium.

The 1.4 billion cedi tournament, which has Onetouch Ghana Limited, as the headline sponsors, Coca Cola Ghana Limited and First Atlantic Bank as the supporting sponsors is aimed at preparing the four clubs for the next league season and towards the continental competition early next year.

Even though the organisers did not give the full details of the package, GNA Sports gathered that Onetouch - the headline sponsor contributed one billion cedis, with Coca Cola offering 300 millions whilst First Atlantic Bank supported with 100 millions cedis. Chris Tsegah a representative of Onetouch disclosed that the communication giants will also support the participants with two sets of jerseys and make available logistical support worth 600 millions cedis to the organisers.

Joseph Yaw Appiah, Chairman of GHALCA said even though his outfit encountered organisational problems at the initial stages, he is confident that the tournament will be a success.

He, however, gave the assurance that such problems will not be allowed to herald the tournament anymore as they are bent on keeping it on the annual football calendar.

Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) endorsed the organisation of the tournament and promised the full backing of the Association adding that the FA will do everything possible to see to its success.

He said the tournament is relevant because it offers players and clubs the opportunity to keep their teams busy during the off season. The FA boss added that the tourney also provides some financial relief to the participants, hence the need to give it the needed support and to make it a keen affair.

The participating Clubs were presented with a cheque for 175 million cedis as their appearance fee.

The Clubs also signed a contract binding them to the tournament with the organisers.